LAHORE: National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NVTTC) chairperson Gulmina Bilal has stressed the need for focusing on thetechnical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector to make rural women self-reliant and training them in non-conventional trades as well.

She was addressing the Hunar Foundation’s certification ceremony of the 5th TVET batch of female students at a local hotel on Tuesday, where certificates were awarded to 273 candidates.

Chief Minister’s Task Force on TVET Chairperson Adnan Afzal Chatta, who was the chief guest of the ceremony, said the government has chalked out a plan that includes various initiatives for women, minorities and transgender persons to impart them them vocational training in culinary, IT, beauticians and other skills. These efforts will be instrumental in achieving sustainable livelihood for women and eventually poverty alleviation, he added.

The Hunar Foundation, in collaboration with the British Asian Trust, had launched three-year project “Driving Women’s Economic Empowerment” in April 2022 to train a total of 2,100 women in industry-aligned technical and vocational skills, fostering financial independence,

and self-reliance. The target was exceeded by 2,268 female students with more than 50 percent achieving sustainable livelihoods till Feb 2025.

The project executed in Lahore, Multan, and Karachi offered courses in Assembly Line Operator, Digital Marketing & SEO, Industrial Stitching, Hospitality Expert, Beautician, Computer Graphic Design, Fashion Design and Dress Making. The project was aimed to to enhance employment and entrepreneurship skills among women.

The ceremony also featured a panel discussion among women students, who told stories about their journeys at the Hunar Foundation. Many of them started small businesses, while others found jobs in the industry.The event was also attended by the British Asian Trust Country Head Kamyla Marvi Tapal, Arfa Karim Group CEO Tabinda Islam, TVET, climate and sustainability expert Kamran Kashif, Skills for All CEO Sikandar Hameed Lodhi, Punjab Skill Development Fund CEO Ahmed Haleem Khan, and HunarCare head Dr Para Butt.

Tabinda Islam emphasised the need to train women in entrepreneurial and communications skills, while Kamran Kashif focused on improving their industry-related skills. “This is not only a need within the country, but in European countries too,” Kashif said.

He also emphasised that public-private partnerships were a need for TVET growth. “The CSR departments understand the TVET sector today, something that was not there a few years back,” he said.

Marvi emphasised the need to train women in non-conventional trades as well. “Donors today want to see a holistic approach of nonprofits today, which is also the need of the day,” she said.

Dr Para Butt said women are ready to avail the opportunities that come their way.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2025