During a meeting on Punjab’s skilled workforce export plan, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif set a target of training and securing employment for 100,000 young individuals.
She instructed officials to devise a comprehensive strategy for sending skilled workers abroad while ensuring priority access to business cards and loans for trained candidates.
To reach youth in remote areas, the government will launch the “Skills on Wheel” project in collaboration with the private sector. Additionally, the CM approved several initiatives, including a ‘plug and play’ call center system.
Call Center Training & Skills Cards
In the first phase, 5,000 individuals will receive training for call center jobs. After completing a six-week course, participants can expect to earn approximately Rs 100,000 per month. The introduction of Skills Cards was also discussed as part of the initiative.
Read More: PM Shehbaz Sharif Approves Major Youth Skills Training Initiative
Empowering Women Through Training
Officials reported that 480 women will be trained at the Garment Training Institute in Quaid-i-Azam Business Park. They will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 20,000 along with pick-and-drop services and employment placements in major textile companies.
IT & Skills Development Initiatives
Punjab Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Secretary Nadir Chattha announced that all skill development institutions have been merged under a single department.
Under the CM Skilled Punjab Initiative, 4,000 youth have completed international IT certifications, with plans to extend the program to 10,000 participants.
A six-month, free hospitality training program in partnership with a British institution will be introduced, ensuring job placements for graduates.
Additionally, 1,600 transgender individuals have completed skills training in textile, makeup, and backstage production, receiving Rs 8,000 per month in stipends. The “Tabeer” job placement program is also assisting skilled youth in securing employment abroad.
Meanwhile, 27,000 applications have been submitted for a rural women’s digital training program, which offers free desktop computers and training in IT and English.
A centralized digital dashboard for the Punjab Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department is set to launch by mid-April to streamline these efforts.
CM Emphasizes Youth’s Role in National Development
Reaffirming her commitment to youth empowerment, CM Maryam Nawaz stated:
“Providing training and employment opportunities will integrate young people into the development process. Pakistan’s future depends on equipping its youth with essential skills, and the Punjab government is fully committed to supporting this cause.”
Reversal of Double-Decker Bus Fare Hike
In a separate decision, CM Maryam Nawaz ordered an immediate reversal of the increased fares for the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab’s (TDCP) double-decker sightseeing buses.
The price hike notification was withdrawn, restoring the previous ticket rates. The fare for the Sightseeing Lahore Bus Service, which had risen from Rs 200 to Rs 500, was rolled back, as was the increase in corporate, educational, and commercial bookings, which had gone from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000.
Expressing her dissatisfaction with the fare increase, she stressed that the bus service, which operates on three routes, should remain affordable to encourage tourism in Lahore.
