LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday launched the first skills development programme in the province.

“We are going to train the youth in the latest demand-driven IT courses in fields like cloud computing, cyber security, data analytics, graphic designing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and game development in order to multiply their employability,” said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz while addressing at the Government Technology College for Women where she launched the first skills development programme.

She said under the project, 4,000 youth would be trained in 35 Tevta institutes in different cities.

“The Punjab government will provide training in international standard advanced IT courses to 4,000 students every year. The number will be raised from 4,000 to 40,000 gradually,” she said and added the Tevta free training in advanced courses was the right of youth.

She directed the Tevta to carry out restructuring on modern lines, and immediately adopt curricula according to the market demand, so that the youth could get jobs even before they graduated. “Students who complete the course will get certification from international organisations like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco and Unity.”

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2024