SAHIWAL: Muhammad Fahad, 22, a resident of Scheme No 3, Sahiwal, moved to Qatar to earn his living after doing Intermediate and started working there as a computer operator. However, soon after his travel abroad, the Covid-19 hit hard the economies of the world as well as the job sector. Many people lost their jobs and Fahad was also among them. He was sent back home and he found himself unemployed with any skill to find a new job.

Once back, Fahad took admission to a computer programme at the local vocational training. The programme was especially designed by the Pakistan’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system for the Pakistani youth like Fahad under the title of ‘Reintegration of Returnees’. Today, Fahad is among 100 candidates who received certificates after successfully completing their seven-month-long training course under the programme designed for such Pakistanis as were sent back home from the UAE and other countries during the coronavirus pandemic.

The certificate awarding ceremony of a programme was held at a private hotel on Thursday. The programme is running under the umbrella of the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) through its 146 vocational training institutes across the province. One hundred trainees from two districts–Okara and Sahiwal– received their certificates. They included 60 men and 40 women.

According to the TVET reform website, “Reintegration of Returnees in Pakistan is an initiative under the TVET Sector Support Programme that offers reintegration assistance to Pakistani returnees and Pakistani nationals, particularly young adults, who return to their home country voluntarily.

Reintegration of Returnees in Pakistan is an initiative commissioned by German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC)”.

Around 50 students were also awarded free ‘tool kits’ related to the courses in refrigeration and air-conditioning and beautician.

Mr Naveed, the principal of the institute, told Dawn that ‘Reintegration of Returnees’ also inducted the students belonging to the minorities and low-income groups. He said during the Covid-19 outbreak many Pakistanis came back home from foreign countries and they remained unemployed. These workers, he added, were semi-skilled or unskilled but had no certification from any recognised institutions and it was in this background that the PVTC, with the financial assistance of GIZ, started the programme to impart skill training to the unskilled workforce.

“Tomorrow, they will be inducted on better wages and working conditions whether they stay in Pakistan or return back to the countries they were earlier employed in,” Mr Naveed further said.

It is important to note that the students inducted in 44 vocational courses at the vocational training institutes across Punjab get free education, monthly stipends/scholarship, training and free toll kits after completion of their courses under the Punjab Vocational Training Council Act 1998. Funds come from the provincial zakat department.

Many other students like Fahad shared their stories in the certificate awarding ceremony.

Bushra Naz, the senior manager PVTC, Gulam Ahmed Joyia, the area manager PVTC and Aneesur Rehman, the president of the board of management of the VTIs also addressed the ceremony. Local industrialists and members of the chamber of commerce and industry also participated in the function.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2022