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Friday March 29, 2024

Pak-Turkish accord on hospitality, construction centre

By Our Correspondent
March 01, 2019

Islamabad: Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday signed an agreement for the establishment of a state-of-the-art centre of excellence for hospitality and construction.

“Pakistan and Turkey share the bond which joins the hearts and binds us emotionally,” said Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood while addressing an agreement signing ceremony between Pakistan and Turkey, organised by National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) here.

Under this agreement, Turkish Cooperation & Coordination Agency (TIKA) will establish State-of-the-Art Centre for Hospitality & Construction at National Skill University Islamabad (formerly NISTE).From Pakistan’s side, Mr. Mr. ShafqatMahmood, Federal Minister for Education and Executive Director NAVTTC Dr. NasirKhan, and from turkey’s side President of TIKA, Dr. SerdarCam signed the agreement.

President of TIKA Dr. SerdarCam termed the agreement a huge success in taking cooperation between the two countries further. When we are investing in young people we are investing in our future, he added.

Establishment of Center of Excellence for Hospitality & Construction would be a masterpiece of Pak-Turkey friendship, said NAVTTC Chairman Syed Javed Hassan while addressing the ceremony.

This institution will be the first public institution of its kind in Pakistan, which will provide the most advanced training in the Hospitality sector. The hotel industry in Pakistan is one of the most vibrant and rapidly growing industries and provides exciting career opportunities for highly skilled workforce.

It has great potential to increase remittances, generate employment for youth, contribute to taxes and boost other important allied business activities such as tourism, event management, airline, transportation, and logistics etc. Pakistan has more than 10,000 hotels including five, four, three stars with over 50,000 rooms.

The Hotel and Tourism Industry generates over 1.5 million jobs hotels and Sierra tourism industries generate more than 1.5 million jobs which is about 2.5% of the total employment this agreement is expected to significantly increase this rate. Moreover, the entire hospitality and tourism sector will get a boost and will also provide a highly trained workforce to the domestic and international hospitality industry.