2m to be trained for skills by 2018: CM

Says incidents of children kidnapping have reduced

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the Punjab government is launching e-job training programme for youths for imparting various skills to two million youths according to the market needs till 2018.

A representative delegation of youths called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Monday. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said more than 60 percent population of the country comprised of youths who were a precious asset of the nation. He said the Punjab government had taken a number of revolutionary measures to empower youths and positive results were being witnessed of these programmes aimed at progress, empowerment and creation of job opportunities for youths. He said that provision of resources for youth empowerment was a useful investment in the future of Pakistan and maximum resources would be made available for this purpose.

He said the Punjab government was also launching e-job training programme for youths as it was essential for providing them respectable job opportunities. He said a programme was being implemented for imparting various skills to two million youths according to the market needs till 2018. He said thousands of youths had been imparted training in various skills under Skill Development Programme and youths had also been provided billions of rupees interest-free loans for starting their own business. 

The chief minister said that 50,000 vehicles had been distributed among youths on merit and in a transparent manner under Apna Rozgar Scheme; laptops worth billions of rupees had been distributed among lakhs of youths on merit basis so as to enable them to acquire the latest knowledge. He said talented students of low-income families were acquiring higher education at local and foreign universities with the help of Punjab Endowment Fund and their number had exceeded 1.5 lakh. He said empowerment was their right which the Punjab government was ensuring. He said destiny of the nation would be changed through equipping the youth with the latest knowledge and the dream of progress and prosperity of the country would be realised through youths empowerment. 

The delegation members said the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken commendable measures for the progress of youths and its revolutionary programmes for youth empowerment were yielding positive results. The delegation also gave a gold medal to the chief minister for his revolutionary measures for the welfare and empowerment of youth.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that every child is dear to him and no effort will be spared for the protection of children as they are future of the nation. 

He said that due to effective measures taken by institutions concerned of the Punjab government the incidents of kidnapping of children had reduced substantially; however, the all-out effort should be made for tracing the children who are still missing. He said the facts in this regard should be brought to light and necessary measures should be taken for controlling such incidents.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of steering committee set up with regard to incidents of kidnapping of children. The chief minister directed that an effective system should be evolved to check the incidents of children kidnapping as it caused a lot of pain and agony to the parents. He directed Advocate General and Secretary Prosecution to work efficiently for early disposal of cases pertaining to missing children. He directed that foolproof security on campuses should be ensured and the plan evolved for protection of school going children should be strictly implemented. He said police and institutions concerned should remain alert around schools and perform their duties efficiently. 

Issuing instructions for effective monitoring of security plan and checking, Shahbaz Sharif directed that efforts should be made for the protection and safety of children. He directed that police officers should pay visits to schools and check security arrangements while police patrolling around schools should be intensified.

He said he would preside over a meeting of steering committee personally once a week whereas the steering committee would meet twice a week to review the situation as well as monitor the steps taken in this regard. He said the steering committee would be fully authorised to take necessary measures for the safety of children.