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‘Rs 7.5bn assistance given to skilled labour every year’

* PVTC provided technical training to 70,000, TEVTA to 200,000

Staff Report

LAHORE: Governor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool said the current government gave financial assistance of more than Rs 7.5 billion to skilled labour every year. He said this while addressing a grant distribution ceremony on Sunday.

The governor also distributed tool grants worth Rs 6.25 million among 3,000 skilled people upon completing their training from various technical institutions and district industrial homes of the Social Welfare Department.

On the occasion, cheques worth Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 were distributed amongst the skilled labour through the Pakistan Baitul Maal, to start businesses in various trades. The skilled people were from Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Narowal and Gujranwala.

Maqbool said that eight years ago, Rs 300 million were allocated annually through the Pakistan Baitul Maal whereas this year educational stipends, worth a total of Rs 330 million, were provided to students in need.

“Pakistan Baitul Maal has provided financial assistance to 2 million families under the Food Support Programme, which has benefited 120 million (people),” he said, adding that the number of students receiving educational stipends came to 15,000 in 2008.

Ten thousand skilled labourers have been able to start businesses under the Economic Rehabilitation Programme, while 10,000 needy people have been provided treatment facilities for cancer, heart disease, kidney transplantation and neurosurgery. Furthermore, 12,000 needy patients of Hepatitis have been provided complete treatment under a programme for Hepatitis control.

PVTC and TEVTA provide technical training: Maqbool said the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) had provided training to 70,000 people in 40 different trades through a grant of Rs 600 million received from the Central Zakat Council every year, whereas the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) was providing technical training to 200,000 students.

He said that the National Commission for Vocational and Technical Education (NEVTEC) had decided to provide technical training to 75,000 children every year and a living allowance of Rs 2,000 monthly would be provided.

In addition, he said soft term loans up to Rs 0.7 million were provided through the National Bank of Pakistan, without any guarantee, to 100,000 people under the President’s Rozgar Scheme. He added, the Khushhali Bank had also provided loans for small businesses to 800,000 people in the rural areas.

The governor praised the efforts of Social Welfare Secretary G M Sikandar for setting the monthly income from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 for receiving tool grants and expressed the hope that the revolution of prosperity would reach every home.

TEVTA Chairman Khalid Mahmood, PVTC Chief Operating Officer Sajid Naseer, Lahore District Coordination Officer Mian Muhammad Ijaz, Punjab Social Welfare Director General Rizwanullah Baig, and Punjab Baitul Maal Director Col (r) Ahmad Nadeem Qadri also addressed the function.

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