GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Speaker Syed Amjad Zaidi has said the region can grab substantial benefits from the projects launched under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by providing skilled workforce.

He expressed these remarks while addressing a donor conference organised in Skardu on Monday by the Directorate of Technical Education and Skills Development (DTESD) in collaboration with TVET Sector Support Programme (TVET SSP).

Purpose of the event was to ensure sustainability as well as promotion of TVET programmes in the region through enhanced collaboration of donors.

Education minister Raja Azam Khan, secretary education Iqbal Hussain Khan, head of Cooperation of EU Delegation in Pakistan Mr Ovidiu Mic, Head of TVET SSP Ms Iris Cordelia Rotzoll, Director DTESD Faizullah Lone and representatives from donor organisations attended the event.

Mr Zaidi said a number of mega development projects had been launched under the CPEC, especially in water and communication, tourism, trade, renewable energy and information technology sectors, which was a huge job market. “We can get major benefits of this market by producing a skilled force.”

He said partnership between DTESD, TVET SSP and other development partners would help train the required workforce to meet the challenges for prosperity and economic growth in GB.

On the occasion, Mr Ovidiu Mic said the collaborative efforts of various development partners in the region could further build on what EU and its development partners had initiated. “This region has a lot of scope for a variety of skills in sectors such as construction, engineering, hospitality, information technology and renewable energy, and “We look forward to continuing our engagement in the TVET sector here.”

ELECTION SCHEDULE: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan on Monday issued schedule of the GB Council elections to be held on Nov 12.

Voting to elect the six members of the council will be held in the GB Assembly as the five-year tenure of the current members ended in May.

A total of 33 members of the GB Assembly will vote to elect the new council members.

According to a notification issued by the region’s election commission on Monday, candidates will submit their nomination papers to the returning officer by Oct 29, and the RO will scrutinise the papers on Oct 30 and 31.

Candidates can submit their appeals to the chief election commissioner against the decision of RO on Nov 2 and 3.

The election commissioner will decide the objections/complaints from Nov 4 to 6. The final list of candidates will be displayed on Nov 9.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2021