Minister urges skill development of youth in merged districts

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Minister for Newly Merged Districts, Technical Education, Industries, and Commerce Dr Aamer Abdullah has directed officials to optimise the technical education department’s resources for the accelerated development of skills and professional training among the youth in the tribal districts.

Emphasising on the significance of the Accelerated Skill Development programme, the minister has called for a formal MoU with the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority.

Specifically focusing on the areas of Orakzai, Bajaur, and Waziristan, the minister has instructed the inclusion of training courses such as olive grafting, along with other relevant programmes. The caretaker minister also directed the provision of detailed data regarding trained and employed skilled workers in these districts imparted under such a specialised programme.

During a briefing on the Accelerated Skill Development Programme, presented by Project Director Khalid Usman Wazir and Coordinator Tufail, the minister was apprised of the project’s aims and objectives. The initiative, launched by the Department of Industries, Commerce, and Technical Education, targets essential training courses in mining, textile, manufacturing, construction, tourism, livestock and agriculture, engineering, IT, and telecom, aligned with market demands.

Highlighting the progress made, the minister was informed that the first phase of the programme trained 302 male and female skilled workers, with 445 individuals enrolled in the second batch. The minister directed the establishment of an MoU with the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) to leverage the Institute of Technical Education Department in Hayatabad for gem and gemmological courses.