KARACHI: There is a famous proverb about teaching a man to fish being far better than giving a man a fish and feeding him for a day as then you feed him for a lifetime.

Enabling people to earn a decent livelihood has led Faisal Edhi of Edhi Foundation to set up a technical training institution, the Edhi Institute of Science and Technology, which offers free vocational training to whoever is interested in bettering their lives through hard work.

On Wednesday, just behind Terminal 1 of the Jinnah International Airport, one could find some seven to 10 young men in dark blue overalls with the Edhi logo bent over aeroplane engines of Edhi air ambulances.

Jamil Ahmed from Lyari likes to play football but said that it is only his hobby as he is more serious about becoming a professional technician than a footballer. “I want to be realistic about my future,” he told Dawn, adding that with a skill in hand, he could earn a regular income.

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Ameer Hussain from Punjab Chowrangi was a Suzuki pickup driver, who heard about the course from his big brother, a male nurse with the Bilquis Edhi Foundation.

“My brother informed me as soon as he heard about this course. In fact, he came home with the forms, which I filled right away and now here I am one month away from earning my diploma,” he beamed.

Mohammad Amir grew up at Edhi Centre. “He even overhauls our trucks and generator engines,” said Faisal Edhi, while introducing the young man. “Amir is smart and very hardworking. Equipped with professional training, I see him going far,” he said with pride.

Edhi also introduced another auto mechanic working with the Edhi ambulances for some 13 years now, Mohammad Imran Junejo, who also hails from Lyari.

“We only just started work at the institute six months ago. This here is our first batch,” he said gesturing at the group of trainees, now entering their final month of training. “It is also new for the Edhi Foundation to enter the education field. And we are happy to see our first batch enter its final month of training now,” he said.

“Like here we have linked technical education with aviation. Like automobiles, aeroplanes also have a piston engine that burns fuel. If any of our students want to move towards aviation, we will also support them,” he said.

Edhi Ambulance Chief Engineer Iftikhar Ahmed was available for guidance on the occasion. “We will impart basic education first before looking at the aptitude of the trainees,” he said.

Masood Sayeed, former training head at various vocational institutes such as Aman Foundation, Allied Engineering & Services, Orient Energy Systems, Proton Training Solutions, etc, who is now with the Edhi Institute, said that he also shared Edhi’s vision. “I also want to help young people stand on their own two feet and financially support their families,” he said.

Currently, the six-month technical training certification and diploma courses being offered by the Edhi Institute include auto mechanics (petrol or diesel), generator mechanics, motorcycle mechanics and the auto electrician’s course while there is also a year-long Diploma Information Technology course.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2024