LAHORE: Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE) on Thursday held an award-distribution ceremony in the honour of position holders.

Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain as the chief guest. Education Minister Rana Sikander Hayat, Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skill Development, Adnan Afzal Chattha, Secretary of Industry and Commerce Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, Chairperson of the Board, Sahibzada Waseema Umar, goodwill ambassador for technical education Dr. Abid Sherwani, office-bearers of the chamber of commerce and industry, students, parents and teachers attended the event.

Cash prizes and medals were distributed among the position holders of various diploma programmes for the first annual examination of 2024 conducted by the Punjab Board of Technical Education.

Mr Hussain congratulated the position holders on their outstanding success and said that the government had prioritised the promotion of quality technical education and the preparation of a skilled workforce, taking significant steps in the last six months for the advancement of technical education.

He said that a phased programme for the elevation of 388 Tevta institutes was launched, with five colleges being upgraded in the first phase. He also mentioned that three technical universities in Punjab are being upgraded, with plans to introduce modern courses such as water technology in these universities. Solar technology courses have also been introduced for the first time in Tevta institutes.

Mr Hayat stated that there is a high demand for skilled labour in the global market, and practical steps must be taken to meet this demand.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2024