RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and the Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure provision of much-needed quality skilled manpower to the industry.

LCCI President Abdul Basit and TEVTA Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh inked the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations and also inaugurated a display center for ceramic art at the Lahore Chamber on Tuesday.

The MoU is aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two organizations which will work together for promotion of ceramic sector and will nominate focal person. The focal person at LCCI will be responsible for establishing working relationship with the TEVTA and ensure availability of window-display at the chamber at a nominal cost for undertaking activities to exhibit the ceramic products.

Sheikh said that TEVTA, at present, is giving special attention to arrange jobs for its pass-outs. He said Pakistan has become the center of attention for world investment due to its geographical position in South Asia and investors from the developed countries are giving priority to expand their business in this country. Sheikh added that TEVTA, in collaboration with national and multi-national companies, is introducing demand driven courses and it is willing to work with Lahore Chamber for the promotion of ceramic sector.

LCCI President Abdul Basit said promotion of technical education is much-needed for GDP growth. The collaboration between the two institutions will ultimately bridge the skill gap which will lead to a quantum jump in the country’s exports. He called for formulating policy for the promotion of demand driven technical education and vocational training in Punjab under the TEVTA.

Abdul Basit said that present setup of technical training is not addressing the requirements of modern industrialization taking place in the country. Pakistan is a country of more than 20 million people with a high percentage of youth along with fast growing industrial sector. But, unfortunately, both the sides are unable to accommodate each other, he lamented. As the skills required by industry is lacking in young graduates thus resulting in high rate of unemployment, he said.