Find out Punjab’s ambitious initiatives led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, featuring call center training, garment programs for women, IT certifications, and a rollback of double-decker bus fare hikes.
Punjab’s Skilled Manpower Export Plan 🏢
During a recent meeting on Punjab’s plan to export skilled manpower, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced a goal to train and place 100,000 young people in jobs. She directed her team to prepare a plan for sending skilled workers abroad while providing access to business cards and loans for trainees.
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Call Center Training Initiative 📞
In the initial phase of the project, 5,000 youth will receive training in call center operations over a six-week course. After completing the course, participants can secure positions with earnings of around Rs 100,000 per month. A proposal to introduce Skills Cards was also discussed during the meeting.
Empowering Women in the Textile Sector 👩🎓
Officials shared plans for a program at the Garment Training Institute in Quaid-i-Azam Business Park. In this program, 480 women will undergo training with the support of a pick-and-drop service. Each trainee will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 20,000 and will soon be placed in major textile groups.
IT & Hospitality Training Programs 💻
Punjab Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Secretary Nadir Chattha announced that all institutions providing skill development programs have been unified under one department. Under the CM Skilled Punjab Initiative:
- 4,000 youth have earned international IT certifications, with an aim to increase that number to 10,000.
- A free six-month hospitality training course is set to start in collaboration with a British institution. Graduates from this course will secure jobs in the hospitality sector.
In another development, 1,600 transgender individuals completed training in textile, makeup, and backstage production and receive a monthly stipend of Rs 8,000. The “Tabeer” job placement program is helping these skilled workers find employment abroad.
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Digital Skills for Rural Women 🌐
A digital training program designed for rural women has attracted 27,000 applications. This program provides free desktop computers along with training in English and IT. A centralized digital dashboard for the Punjab Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department is scheduled to go live by mid-April, which will streamline project management.
Fare Rollback for Double-Decker Buses 🚍
In a separate decision, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered a rollback of the fare increase for double-decker sightseeing buses managed by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab. The fare hike was cancelled, restoring previous ticket prices:
- Sightseeing Lahore Bus Service: Fare reset from Rs 500 back to Rs 200.
- Corporate, educational, and commercial bookings: Price reverted from Rs 20,000 to Rs 5,000.
The CM made it clear that the bus service, operating on three routes, must remain affordable to encourage tourism in Lahore.
Overview of Training Programs
| Initiative | Target Group | Number | Program Details | Monthly Earnings/Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Center Training | Youth | 5,000 | 6-week course; job placement after training | Approx. Rs 100,000 |
| Garment Training for Women | Women | 480 | Training at Garment Training Institute; pick-and-drop service provided | Rs 20,000 (stipend) |
| International IT Certifications | Youth | 4,000 (aim for 10,000) | IT certification courses | – |
| Hospitality Training Program | Youth | TBD | Free 6-month course with a British institution | Job placement (details TBD) |
| Transgender Skills Training | Transgender individuals | 1,600 | Textile, makeup, and backstage production training | Rs 8,000 (stipend) |
| Rural Women Digital Training | Rural Women | 27,000 applications | Free desktop computers, training in English and IT | – |
Youth’s Role in National Development
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reiterated her commitment to youth empowerment, stating:
“Training and job opportunities will bring our youth into the development process. Pakistan’s future rests on our talented young generation acquiring the right skills. The Punjab government will support them fully in their training and job placement.”
This comprehensive approach by the Punjab government reflects a determined effort to boost employment and skill development among youth, women, and marginalized communities, while also ensuring affordability in public transportation to support local tourism.
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