KARACHI, Jan 5: The Ministry of Labour and Manpower will impart vocational training to 0.3 million people in one year to meet the demand of skilled labour at home and abroad.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower Ghulam Sarwar Khan, while speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of 46th Postgraduate Diploma Course at National Institute of Labour Administration on Wednesday.

He pointed out that both President and Prime Minister were taking interest in solving the problems of labourers. He said that directive for training of 0.3 million people had been given to Labour Ministry by Prime Minister himself and all out efforts are being made to meet the target.

Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that present government believes in the stability of institutions and steps are being taken to make them effectively functional. The Federal Minister said, "our effort is to have good and congenial relations between employers and employees and any dispute between them be resolved amicably.

He described the impression as wrong that some organizations of the Labour Ministry are being merged. He said that performance of every organization under Labour Minister is being evaluated and decision will be taken in respect of those showing failure in attaining the given objectives.

The Minister said that capacity for vocational training is being raised from 0.1 to 0.2 million throughout the country. In this regard training will be imparted in three shifts at all Vocational Training centres.

To a question, Ghulam Sarwar said that those persons who have obtained vocational training from a government organization, but are without job, they will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs500.

This year, he informed that highest number of 86,000 persons were imparted vocational training in Punjab followed by 5000 in NWFP, 3000 in Sindh and 1700 in Balochistan.

He informed that on the President's directive, technical training centre will be established for training of local people in every district. He appreciated the standard of Training at NILAT and assured of his full cooperation. -APP