LAHORE, Sept 21: The Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (Tusdec) has established a Special Skill Development Centre at Battagram, a quake-hit district of the NWFP, and is imparting quality training to labourers to help them earn livelihood besides playing their role in nation-building.

The centre established at a cost of Rs49.1 million initially provided free training in hospitality, tourism construction and furniture making disciplines while training facilities for two more trades were provided recently.

The centre is also imparting training to masons, electricians, shuttering receptionists, housekeeping staff, waiters, cooks, bakers, kitchen helpers and drivers and this process will enable male adults to become breadwinners of their families once again.

The skill development centre started operations at Koza Banda, Battagram, in June this year. The first batch of receptionists, housekeepers, waiters, chauffeurs, tour guides and trekking guides graduated recently while training of a new batch has started getting training now.

Tusdec decided to establish the centre after a survey of quake-hit areas last year, which revealed that local cottage industry had suffered badly and lost much of its skilled labour due to the devastation caused by the earthquake.

Battagram region was chosen for setting up of the skill development centre as its devastated infrastructure and institutions and loss of skilled labour was a major setback to the rejuvenation of life in calamity-hit area.

The SDC focuses at enhancing populations in the vicinity to benefit from its free-of-cost services providing long-term empowerment through delivering useful skills and expertise. — Reporter