It is very unfortunate that in an age of the internet when online earning resources are at their peak, our youth are unable to become part of this lucrative business ventures due to lack of the computer skills. The majority of educated people in Pakistan at present are people with several MA degrees but zero skills. Average intelligence for any country and government and credentials in specific subjects is not possible to provide government jobs to all people.

Skill teaching institutions are active all over the world, but in some countries, youth are trained in one or the other skill from the student age, keeping in mind the interest of the young students. Many education plans and policies have come up with us, but we have been lacking in teaching skills  and technical trainings. Otherwise, our people are also rich in creativity and do not shy away from hard work.

Due to this deficiency, the only dream of the unemployed youth is to get a job in a foreign country for which they endure severe hardships. Sometimes their boats sink into the sea and sometimes they die of suffocation in the containers. Most of those who arrive in foreign lands have to do jobs that they would never be willing to do in their own countries.

These people can shape the destiny of Pakistan if provided due skills in their home country. If we understand the needs of the world and use the resources in our country accordingly, we can produce an excellent workforce.

Recently, the TVETA, an organizing for providing skills training in various fields to youth, was showcasing skills of Pakistani youth. There, furniture made of wood, and other artifacts prepared by us and to see the work in terms of pottery, it was all remarkable and excellent.

From plumbers to all kinds of mechanics, modern training is being given by TVETA. The world has become a global village, but we are still not trying to adapt to the world. The stability of the economy of our neighboring countries India and Bangladesh is owed to their citizens living abroad, who send billions of dollars of foreign exchange to their country every year. Apart from the Arab countries, during the trip to America and Europe, we talk to the Pakistanis living there, and they tell us with great sadness that our CVs do not contain anything except the credentials we have obtained. They also do not have that much status. Therefore, restaurant, taxi driver and doing hard labor, they get confused in the cycle of nationality and then they stay there. By teaching different skills to millions of people in India every year, it is made possible for them to apply legally and go abroad and earn well. Most of them are Indians, Sri Lankans or Bangladeshis technical engineers, mechanics or automotive experts, which is why they are not only being accepted from the heart, but their income is much higher than us Pakistanis. Another thing is that most Pakistanis go out of the country illegally or secretly, then they start sending money through Hundi and gradually become addicted. While the funds remitted through Hundi do not provide any support to the country’s economy. Under TVETA, there are institutes in various cities of Pakistan that are imparting skills to the youth in technical fields from post matriculation. The highly talented bosses at the TEVTA are blessing for an organization who are not limited and satisfied with the work they do but aim to take the organization towards development to the extent possible.

They are committed to mentally activating the staff of their organization so that they can play an important role in the development of the country in the next few years.

There is a dire need to create awareness among people that getting technical education is more beneficial than getting traditional and pretentious degrees.

If a few weeks of TVETA-like courses are made compulsory in the curriculum in all higher secondary schools, the frustrated youth can be able to get jobs at home and also abroad.

It may be recalled here that prominent scientist of Pakistan, Professor Dr. Attaur Rehman , who is internationally renowned for his numerous and remarkable research efforts, has always been laying emphasis on the education on scientific lines of youth.  Prof. Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman is undoubtedly the pride of Pakistan, and he always says that for the development of the dear country and the pride in the world, it is necessary to establish such an education system throughout the country that guarantees to pave the way for every Pakistani student to become like him.

He has more than over one thousand publications to his name in the field of organic chemistry, full of unique research and many have international patents which is a unique contribution on his part to the field of science.

Time has come the nation should act on his advices regarding giving special attention to the promotion of science. He has always been advocating new measures and comes up with series of plans and suggestion in this regard but the irony is that the successive governments could not work on his suggestion as he wants that the governments should allocate more and more funds for the field of promotion of science if we want to make real progress in the comity of nations.

In the past, when he was federal minister for science and technology and the head of the Higher Education Commission, he used to come up with new steps aiming at attracting youth to the field of science which according to him can guarantee our progress as a nation.

 He has a long list of PhD students who have completed their degrees under Dr Atta’s guidance and supervision, which is still continuing.

Recently, while speaking as Chief guest at the 8th Annual Surgical Conference in Pakistan hosted by KU, he termed science as key to success and called upon to think critically and share their ideas on what they think as it is ideas which can be developed into long range researches.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 08 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.