ISLAMABAD: Amid rapid outflow of Pakistani manpower to various cou­ntries in search of jobs, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday said steps should be taken to increase emp­loyment opportunities for skilled people abroad.

Presiding over a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said that professional education and vocational training programmes should be prepared on a par with needs of the international markets.

According to a press rel­ease of the Prime Minis­ter’s Office (PMO), Mr Ka­­kar stressed the need for starting the work for providing skills to the country’s manpower according to contemporary requirements.

A large number of people are leaving abroad to seek employment there. The major reason behind this massive outflow of the labour force is said to be unprecedented inflation in the country.

Five-day polio drive launched, to target 44m kids

On the recommendation of federal ministry of education and professio­n­­al training, the cabinet approved an amended ag­­ree­ment between Natio­nal Vocational and Technical Training Commission and Saudi Agency Takamol.

It also appro­ved the MoU between the Area Studies Center, University of Pes­hawar, and Central Asia Resea­rch Centre of Corv­inus, University of Hungary.

The cabinet also appro­ved the appointment of Lt-Gen Munir Afsar as the Nadra chairman.

The cabinet also appro­ved the name of Summit Bank Limited as Bank Mukarramah Limited on the recommendation of the finance ministry.

The cabinet also appro­ved an agreement betw­e­­en the governments of Pa­­kistan and Ecuador, under which diplomatic, officials and special passport holders of the two countries would be exempt from visa requirements.

The cabinet also gave assent to the decisions taken in the meetings of the Economic Coordina­tion Committee on Sept 6 and Sept 19.

Anti-polio drive

Earlier, the PM launched a five-day polio vaccination drive targeting around 44 million children across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the PM said 350,000 polio workers would participate in the drive to administer anti-polio vaccine drops to 44 million children aged 0-5 years.

He termed the polio workers the nation’s heroes who braved challenges while making the anti-polio drive successful. He also mentioned the support of international partners for eradication of polio from Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2023