Sindh to establish women vocational training centres in Muzaffargarh, Malakand

KARACHI : The Sindh Government has announced the establishment of Women Vocational Training Centers in Muzaffargarh, Punjab and Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa.

Sindh Government sources told The News that the construction work of the proposed vocational centre’s will be carried out by the ‘Special Development Funds’ allocated by the prime minister to Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for development works as per his choice.

As per official correspondence the Sindh cabinet approved the said projects and the Sindh Universities and Boards Department has proposed a total budget of Rs3.4billion for the completion of both projects. However, Sindh Chief Secretary has instructed that the projects be completed within a revised budget of Rs2billion.

The execution of both projects will be undertaken by the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), which will receive the funds accordingly. The Government of Sindh will allocate the budget from development funds associated with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The Department of Universities and Boards has begun reworking the project plans, with implementation expected to commence in the next fiscal year. A summary has already been sent to the Chief Minister of Sindh for approval. However, following objections raised by the Chief Secretary, a revised summary is being prepared.

As per official documents in Muzaffargarh, Punjab the project—comprising land acquisition, procurement of technical equipment, construction, and five years of operational costs—was initially estimated at Rs. 1.71 billion. The chief secretary has proposed a Rs710million budget cut. In Batkhela, Malakand, the project is expected to cost Rs 2.72 billion, covering similar components including land, construction, technical equipment, and five year operational expenses.