FAISALABAD, May 21: The government is promoting the concept of self-employment to permanently resolve the issue of unemployment. Governor Khalid Maqbool said this at a function held to distribute Rs60 million among 3,000 students under the Prime Minister’s Self-Employment Scheme at the University of Agriculture (UAF) here on Monday.
The governor said the government was working on a comprehensive strategy to fight the menace of unemployment. “In this connection, the Pakistan Baitul Maal has spent billions of rupees during the last seven years,” he said and added that the Punjab government had also provided Rs750 million to various institutions to equip deserving students with various technical and vocational skills.
He said banks were extending micro credits to encourage small businesses, and hoped that it would also play its role in arresting the issue of poverty. Similarly, agriculture loans were also being offered to the rural population to strengthen the sector on scientific lines.
The governor said similar functions would be arranged by the end of June in Chakwal and Sargodha to distribute cheques and certificates among 7,000 students who had completed their technical and vocational training.
He said Rs20,000 would also be provided, enabling them to start their own businesses.
He said vocational training institutes (VTIs) were producing 30,000 skilled workers every year. However, the prime minister would be requested to increase the annual enrolment of VTIs to 50,000 to arrest unemployment on war footings.
He said M-3 Industrial City would also have two training institutions to provide trained and skilled manpower to the industries to be set up in this industrial estate.
Convocation: The convocation of University of Faisalabad (UF) will be held here on June 5.
Governor Khalid Maqbool will preside over the convocation and award degrees to graduates of 2004, 2005 and 2006 sessions.
Pro-Rector Abdul Majeed has asked all eligible graduates to contact the examination assistant controller for their registration up to May 28, 2007.
He said a rehearsal will be held at 3pm on June 4, 2007. “Participation in rehearsal is a must for all recipients of degrees and medals,” he stressed. — APP