August 11, 2007	Saturday	Rajab 26, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: The government should take steps to improve skills of the labours to increase industrial production. Acting President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Jamal Abdul Nasir said in a statement and stressed the need to increase the number of skilled labour force in the country.

This could be done with the help of the International Standard Organisation (ISO) to establish certified and verified institutions in the industrial and remote areas of the country, he added.

To earn foreign exchange for the country, he said, the availability of skilled labours was necessary because they could compete in the global market and earn foreign exchange for the country.

Mr Nasir said that, unfortunately, there was no institution of international standards to produce skilled labour manpower in Pakistan. To improve the skills of labours institutions could be established in collaboration with public, private sectors.

He suggested that the government should spread institutions of technical education in the whole country specially in the industrial estates to alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment.