Islamabad:In 2024, the obstacles hindering young women's access to technical trades remain notably high. Germany maintains its commitment to empowering women pursuing opportunities in traditionally male-dominated sectors. The Shana Bashana initiative has initiated a shift in perspective, demonstrating that women can excel in technical trades within the infrastructure and construction domains. Partners acknowledge the necessity of addressing systemic barriers while recognising the potential of a female workforce.
With support of Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, chairperson NAVTTC, the German-funded and GIZ-implemented Global Project Education (Build4Skills) in partnership with Siemens Pakistan and ‘The Hunar Foundation’ honoured their joint initiative ‘Shana Bashana.’ TVET experts, decision-makers and private sector representatives met on 16 May to acknowledge 44 young women. They successfully graduated from an Institute-Based Learning (IBT) at The Hunar Foundation (THF) in two trades: Logistics & Supply Chain and AutoCAD. Subsequently, these female TVET students will be placed for 6 weeks of Workplace-Based Training (WBT) at Siemens Pakistan in the coming months.
To support the girls in a smooth transition to the job market, the cooperation provided toolkits pertaining to the respective trades. Muhammad Daniyal, managing director of Siemens Pakistan, appreciated the efforts by all ‘stakeholders for making this initiative possible and encouraged the female participants to strive for their dreams and stand side by side with men in all trades and sectors.’
Sharjeel Farooq Malik, project manager, GIZ, directly addressed the young women: ‘You are the enablers, who challenge systemic limitations and institutionalised discrimination – so that alleged choices become actual choices.’ Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, chairperson NAVTTC said, “Only by setting promising examples, we can de-construct stereotypes or false assumptions about a gender and someone’s abilities. NAVTTC’s ‘Skills for All – Strategy” means skills for ALL(!): this includes women just as much as it includes men.”