PESHAWAR, June 15: NWFP Chief Secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor has said that the government is taking steps for the promotion of technical education and vocational training in the province.

He said the young generation should opt for technical education instead of doing simple FA, BA and MA as job opportunities for non-technical people were limited.

Talking to a delegation from Hangu district which called on him at his office in Peshawar on Friday, he said that Pakistani workers were no longer sought after in the Middle East as they had no technical know-how, whereas workers from India, Philippines and South Korea were in high demand by virtue of their technical and vocational education.

Members of the delegation included Thall Tehsil Nazim Malik Amanullah Khan, Malik Abdul Qayum Khan, Haji Izzat Khan, Malik Ghazi Marjan, Malik Israel Shah, Malik Jamil Khan, Malik Khaliq Shah, Prof Rehmanuddin, Haji Mushtaquddin, Haji Usman Mohammad, Malik Almar Din, Haji Hames Gul, Haji Qasim Khan and Haji Mohammad Shah.

Sahibzada Riaz Noor said that their people only knew driving and manual labour which was no more required in the Arab countries where the job of constructions had almost completed.

He said Pakistanis spent the hard earned money on either marriages or on building big and clumsy houses. He stressed the need for investment in education and industry which could help grow the nation and the country.

He ordered an inquiry regarding a government building lying vacant for the last five years in Thal. He assured the delegation of solution to their problems. The delegation thanked the chief secretary for patiently listening to their problems.—PPI