13/10/2012
LAHORE Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said promotion of industrial activities is the need of the hour for elimination of unemployment and progress, and industrial estates are being set up at maximum number of places, while industrial estate in Bhalwal will be inaugurated in December and in Rahim Yar Khan in January, whereas state-of-the-art vocational institutes are being established in the Sundar Industrial Estate for producing workforce in accordance with market needs.
The CM directed that provision of facilities to industrialists under one window operation should be ensured in Sundar Industrial Estate.
He was presiding over a meeting of the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC), Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and Punjab Vocational Training Council at CMs Secretariat here on Wednesday. Chairman CM Special Initiatives Entity Haroon Khawaja, Chairman Punjab Industrial Estates SM Tanvir, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Industries, Chairman TEVTA and PVTC, Chief Executive Officer PAMCO and experts from private sectors were present.
Shahbaz Sharif observed that industrial activities slowed down in the tenure of the former government due to maladministration and corruption, and the ECOWEST was awarded contract of Rs one billion in the SIE, which showed extremely poor performance. He pointed out that this Company was blacklisted for poor performance and delaying tactics in the Lahore-Kasur Road project. He directed that report regarding the performance of this company in the SIE should be completed as soon as possible for taking action against the company. He also directed to evolve a plan of generation of 50 mega watt energy in the SIE.
He was of the view that location was of key importance in establishment of industrial estates, and such sites should be selected, which were suitable from every aspect. He directed that Chairman Punjab Industrial Estates and Secretary Industries to visit Gujrat and submit their recommendations regarding setting up of industrial estate in the area after keeping in view all aspects.
He said implementation of apprenticeship programme was mandatory for all industrial organisations and they should provide resources to TEVTA for setting up vocational training centres of the highest standard in the SIE. He directed that Industries Department to play an active role for industrial development and ensure effective coordination between industrialists, chambers of commerce and industry and TEVTA.
The CM mentioned that promotion of vocational education was the top priority of the government and for this purpose not only TEVTA had been made an active and vibrant institution, but the syllabus of vocational education was also being modernised and cooperation of leading international institutions was being acquired for this purpose. He directed the participants of the meeting to submit comprehensive recommendations within seven days for the promotion of vocational education in the province.
Earlier, CEO PIE Maj Gen (r) Tariq Javed gave a detailed briefing regarding establishment of industrial estates.
He told the meeting that development work was in progress at a fast pace in the SIE and 102 units were under construction. He mentioned that a plot had also been allotted to TEVTA for setting up of vocational training institute in Multan.
Chairman TEVTA and PVTC informed that syllabus of vocational education was being updated in accordance with market needs and so far 35 courses had been modernised.
He said besides establishment of centres of excellence in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan, new institutes of vocational education were also being set up at other places.
He said the vocational training centre Mehmood Kot which was devastated by the flood, had been revived and educational activities have resumed.