Skill training plan launched

LAHORE
Punjab Schools of Mines and Training Mine Katas under the Chief Inspectorate of Mines (CIM) has launched different long-term and short-term skill training programmes for pre-employment and in-service training of different categories of persons who are required to hold supervisory positions in the mining industry.
This was stated by Punjab Minister for Mines and Mineral Chaudhary Sher Ali Khan during a meeting with the Chief Inspector of Mines Engineer Siddique Chaudhry and other officers of the Inspectorate on Monday. He has said the Punjab government is focusing on capacity building of the mine workers by imparting skill training to them.
Siddique Chaudhry informed the provincial minister that the main purpose of the establishment of training mine is to provide practical training to the prospective Diploma Engineers in actual working conditions on the scientific methods for enhancing safety and production.
Engr. Siddique Chaudhry explained the objectives of these courses and the availability of skilled and trained middle line supervisors and mining surveyors, provision of safe working conditions, ensuring enhanced safety, indirectly increasing production, conversion of mineral wealth which is otherwise wasted due to haphazards and unsafe mining, reduction in numbers of accidents, reposing confidence of safety amongst miners and making them safety conscious by creating awareness, facilities for experiments of mine planning for improving safety and working environment.
The meeting was informed that the Chief Inspectorate of Mines has also introduced three-year diploma courses of associate engineers (DAE) from Punjab Board of Technical Education Lahore in the disciplines of mining and mechanical technologies.
Chief Inspector of Mines informed that uptill now more than 1606 students have been admitted to these courses and 778 students have successfully passed the DAE exam and are now serving different nation building organisations.
He further informed the media that short-term courses such as first aid, timberman, permit manager, mine ventilation, pump operator and maintenance, rescue and recovery, mine sirdar preparatory, surveyor refresher and one week training courses of mine are also being imparted to the mine workers.
More than 7,000 workers have been trained during the last ten years through these courses, he concluded.