Dar, Mahmood agree coordinated efforts for skill, entrepreneurship development

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, Muhammad Usman Dar, and Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training, Shafqat Mahmood, have agreed for making coordinated efforts for skill, entrepreneurship development for creating employment, ARY News reported on Monday.

The Special Assistant to the PM on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar called on Shafqat Mahmood in Islamabad.

They underscored the need for imparting productive skills and developing entrepreneurship culture in the youth through ‘Skills Development’ and ‘Startup Pakistan’ initiatives.

Dar also briefed Shafqat Mahmood regarding new initiatives of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme including ‘National Youth Employment Exchange’ and a mobile application for the skilled workers.

It was decided that 150,000 prospective trainees will receive technical and vocational training in demand driven trades over a period of next two years under the ‘Skills Development’ project.

50 per cent of the training would focus high–end labour sectors, whereas, the remaining portion will target conventional vocational training in less privileged areas like Balochistan and erstwhile FATA, which would ensure the creation of 75 per cent employability of the trained youth.

Under ‘Startup Pakistan’ initiative, one million youth across all universities and 300 accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes would be targeted to create a national eco-system for entrepreneurship incubation for establishing self-sustaining venture start-ups as a driving engine for the national economy.

The apps would ensure better employability of the trained workforce by connecting them with employers through smartphones.