ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed satisfaction over performance of National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and directed it to set new targets to improve outcomes in future and ensure implementation of the Apprenticeship Law.

The prime minister was chairing a review meeting on the newly introduced vocational training programmes in the country, during which ongoing training programmes under NAVTTC were reviewed in detail.

The prime minister said that providing international certifications to Pakistani manpower to enhance global competitiveness was a welcome development.

He directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to accelerate efforts to increase absorption of Pakistani skilled labour in Gulf countries.

Digitisation of Haj procedures ordered

The prime minister emphasised that Pakistani youth possessed immense potential and that a comprehensive programme had been launched through NAVTTC to harness these capabilities. He said that a biometric attendance system be implemented for trainees and instructors in all NAVTTC partner training institutions.

Emphasising coordination with provincial institutions, the prime minister instructed that NAVTTC programmes be expanded to provide training to a larger workforce across the country.

He further said that providing youth with training along with international certifications in skills that were in high global demand should remain the top priority. The prime minister directed that membership of institutions showing unsatisfactory performance under NAVTTC be suspended and strict action be taken against them.

He also instructed that complete digitisation of the NAVTTC system and online monitoring mechanisms be further strengthened and made more effective.

The meeting was attended by private-sector third-party validators working with NAVTTC, industrial partners, professional firms, representatives of chambers of commerce and business associations, as well as experts from the artificial intelligence and information technology sectors.

The meeting was informed that targets assigned by the prime minister for NAVTTC training programmes had been successfully achieved.

Digitisation of Haj procedures

PM Shehbaz on Monday directed the National Information Technology Board (NITB) officials to ensure digitisation of all necessary stages of Haj to facilitate pilgrims and make their access to government facilities easier.

He appreciated the extensive preparations made by the Ministry of Information Technology and other ministries concerned to set up Asan Khidmat Markaz in the federal capital.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2026