FAISALABAD: The Punjab government has launched modern training programmes for the youth to help them tap into the international freelance market.
Abid Ali, who is receiving graphic design training, said that the training would surely enable him to earn money for his family. He said that his teacher asked him to complete the training and then start finding clients online to earn money from home.
Talking to Media, he said the beauty of the information technology-driven jobs was that one can work remotely for clients regardless of location. Despite the Artificial Intelligence revolution, he said the IT sector jobs were increasing with every passing day.
“While AI is making our lives easier, its tools are not for everyone,” he said, and elaborated that a layman without a background in graphic design would not be able to benefit from AI tools. “Only the graphic designers will rule the roost and earn money to strengthen both their personal and national economy,” he added.
Ahsan Ali, a computer science graduate, told Media that the Punjab government was training youth in multiple fields like designing, mobile app development, e-commerce, UI/UX design, creative designing, digital and social media marketing and some other areas. “However, policymakers are ignoring the much-needed skills like cloud computing, machine learning, data analytics, game development, AI and cybersecurity.”
He said these fields were gripping the international markets rapidly, offering significant financial rewards irrespective of “your locations.”
He emphasised that Pakistani youth must be trained in accordance with the market needs rather than following obsolete courses.
“It’s praiseworthy that the Punjab government has planned a strategy to train youth in the latest segments,” he added.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched the 1st Chief Minister Skills Development Programme in Punjab recently.
Addressing a gathering at the Government Technology College for Women, she said that the provincial government would introduce the latest demand-driven IT courses. She said that her government would leave no stone unturned to ensure jobs for the youth.
As many as 35 institutes run by the Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) across the province have been selected to train the youth.
Muhammad Shahid, head of a Tevta-affiliated institute, said the provincial government plans to train more than 4,000 youngsters every year in different sectors. He said the government set a goal to increase the number of students to 40,000 gradually enabling youth to earn and strengthen the national economy.
Shahid said the training would be provided to eligible students free of cost, and they would also be taught how to catch international clients. Without the latest training, he said they couldn’t fully exploit the potential of the international market.
After completion of their training, he said students would get international certification from Unity, Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe.
Shahid said the Punjab government had authorised Tevta to hire the services of faculty and experts even from the private sector. He said modern training would be a game-changer for the freelance industry, which would surely fetch foreign exchange to Pakistan. –INP
