Punjab Skills Development Fund and Export Development Fund (EDF) have signed a partnership agreement for a skills training program to help boost exports in the textile sector, particularly in ready-made garments and knitwear.

The project titled “Export Growth Program in the Readymade Garments and Knitwear Industry” is funded by Export Development Fund (EDF) with trainings in related trades being implemented across Punjab and Sindh via PSDF. During the first year 2023-24, PSDF will train 6,500 trainees in knitwear and readymade garments sector including 20% female trainees. The trainees will receive the necessary hands-on practical training that industries require. Post course completion, 50% of trained individuals will be offered employment in those industries engaged in exporting textiles. The first batch of graduates are expected to be ready for employment in September 2023.

At the signing ceremony Mr Abbas Mehdi, Executive Director EDF said that the export potential of Pakistan’s textile sector can benefit greatly with this partnership as the right skilled resources matched with jobs is exactly what industry needs. Ali Akbar Bosan COO PSDF said that the partnership aims to increase exports through provision of skilled labor on the latest approved curricula to keep the workforce updated.

The main outcome of this project will be provision of skilled manpower to exporting textile sector, in particular to industrial associations like Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) and Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) to help scale exports.

PSDF, Pakistan’s largest skills fund, and PARCO, the largest fully integrated energy company in Pakistan’s corporate sector have signed an MOU under which they will collaborate to provide high-end technical trainings to the local communities residing near PARCO’s Mid Country Refinery in Muzzafargarh under PARCO’s CSR program.

PSDF will provide specific skills training to unskilled youth – including customized programs for women and non muslim youth – to help them get prepared for income generation, self-employment & entrepreneurship through both onsite skills delivery mechanisms as well as through Hybrid and Digital delivery models. The skills trainings trades range from Agriculture and Livestock to Information Technology and are designed on the latest approved curricula.

PARCO has been a front-runner of Corporate Social Responsibility in local communities, supporting self-reliance capabilities amongst the Pakistani youth. PARCO and its subsidiaries have been helping many well-known institutions working in the area of vocational trainings during the past several years.

At the signing ceremony, the COO PSDF said “We are delighted to be partnering with PARCO, one of the Nation’s biggest suppliers of energy requirements as it is a testament to their trust in PSDF to help uplift the lives and financial independence of communities”.  Nadeem Chishti, GM PARCO said “the skilling partnership is all about helping communities near our facilities in DG Khan develop economically. We are steadfast in our commitment to our CSR agendas”

PSDF COO (Chief Operating Officer) Ali Akbar Bosan said “PSDF as a skills expert is in tune with the training and knowledge that is required for the industry so it can shape competent workers and they in turn can deliver quality service and performance to take Punjab’s tourism economy to the next level. This is a necessary endeavor, and we are excited to partner with PTEGP to make it a reality”.

A thriving tourism sector is essential for boosting Pakistan’s economy and a well-trained workforce plays a critical role in attracting and creating an eco-system that meets international standard customer experience for tourists. PSDF and Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth (PTEGP), an initiative under the Government of Punjab (Planning & Development Board) in collaboration with the World Bank Group, signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to train 10,000 individuals in the hospitality sector. Through this partnership, the skillsets of workers in Punjab’s tourism industry will be developed and upgraded.

Both PSDF and PTEGP will work together to promote this partnership amongst key stakeholders in the tourism industry.

The MOU was signed by PSDF COO Ali Akbar Bosan and PTEGP Project Director Muhammad Waqas Malik.  Secretary Tourism Ehsan Bhutta at PSDF headquarters. PSDF will take the lead in identifying the professional areas for training in the tourism industry and mobilize its extensive network of training service providers (TSPs) to implement skills trainings. The partnership aims to activate three main elements needed to successfully expand Punjab’s tourist economy. Which includes increasing private sector participation, improving infrastructure services, and enhancing the skillsets of tourism sector workers.

PTEGP will finance the training and support in raising awareness of the project’s goals amongst relevant parties needed to safeguard its success.

PSDF receives 300 Smart Tablets from Huawei to support its Digital Training Programs.

PSDF (Punjab Skills Development Fund), in partnership with Huawei, will be disseminating 300 smart tablets to support trainees of its digital learning programs.  PSDF received the devices last month and will utilize them to advance the skill development of learners.

Under PSDF | E-tayyar, the organization is funding skills training in professions that are in demand by employers in the digital arena and equipping learners with skills to advance their careers in professional freelancing or online businesses such as e-commerce.  To support its efforts of closing the digital divide that exists in the country, PSDF forged a success with Huawei and Zong. It first launched the e-learning course on “How to E-lance”, in collaboration with Zong to train 10,000 youth in skills that will help them launch their online careers on Fiverr and Upwork the leading online platforms for freelancers, as well as providing free internet data to support their learning.

Huawei joined this initiative and chose to partner with PSDF based on the organization’s reputation as a skill expert and its smart approach to addressing the digital gap by bringing on leading IT stakeholders on board.

Huawei spokesperson says: “This initiative by PSDF is a great step to empower individuals so they can become active participants in the digital economy-Huawei fully supports this mission and is happy to make a contribution that supports the economic growth of Pakistan’s citizens”.

PSDF COO, Ali Akbar Bosan also highlighted the value of this partnership, “This collaboration between PSDF, Huawei and Zong creates a holistic opportunity for PSDF trainees, they will gain access to technical knowledge through PSDF courses and the digital tools they need to access their course like internet data and smart devices”.