ISLAMABAD / KARACHI: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), has apprised that First Annual Conference on “Co-creating Pakistan’s TVET System for Future-ready Workforce” held today in Islamabad with who’s who of the trade bodies and associations in attendance.
Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted that the mega event and the initiative is supported by the TVET Sector Support Programme – and, it is co-funded by the EU and Germany. The conference has marked a historic milestone in bridging the gap between Pakistan’s youth skills and industrial requirement, he added.
H. E. Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, emphasized the importance of international cooperation, noting, “The EU is proud to stand with Pakistan under Team Europe’s TVET Sector Support Programme. Economic competitiveness relies on a skilled workforce, and this collaboration represents a vital step in ensuring that Pakistan’s training institutions produce graduates who are ready to lead in a global market.”
During the conference, Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, President ECO-CCI, and VP CACCI, announced a groundbreaking initiative to provide Web-Based Trainings (WBT) to 1,000 office bearers and senior members of Business & Industry Associations (BIAs) and Institute Management Committees (IMCs).
Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, stated, “Today marks a significant milestone. We are gathered here not just as policymakers or business leaders, but as partners in a mission to reshape the economic destiny of our country through skills development. Our primary objective is to establish a premier platform led by FPCCI for sustainable dialogue between the public and private sectors.”
High-ranking dignitaries attended the event, including H.E. Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan; Mr. Muhammad Aamir Jan, Executive Director NAVTTC; and partners from German Cooperation, GIZ, and the British Council.
The conference featured representatives from eight growth sectors – including renewable energy, IT, textiles, agriculture, and hospitality – aiming to create a blueprint for industry-led skills development.
Mr. Saqib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, highlighted the urgency of the initiative: “For too long, there has been a gap between the skills our youth possess and the skills our industries require. Today, we aim to bridge that gap. We are here to drive industry-relevant workforce development that directly responds to the needs of our markets.”
A key focus of the event was the inclusion of women in the economic workforce and the integration of green skills.
Ms. Qurrat Ul Ain, Vice President (VP) FPCCI, urged for inclusive participation: “We specifically encourage all trade organizations, particularly the Women Chambers of Commerce & Industry, to actively register for these trainings. By integrating Sustainability and Green Skills into our governance, we are ensuring our trade bodies are capacitated to manage collaborations with the public sector effectively.”
Speaking on the alignment between government and industry, Muhammad Aamir Jan, ED NAVTTC, added, “The sustainable governance of the TVET system relies on the voices of the Institute Management Committees (IMCs) and industry associations. We must understand the barriers on the ground to build effective public-private collaboration platforms.”
Tariq Jadoon, Aman Paracha and Aun Ali Syed, VPs FPCCI, also participated in the conference; and, discussed the multisectorial training needs in order to make full use of GSP+ Plus program through upskilling the industrial workforce and diversifying exports basket of Pakistan. Malik Sohail Hussain, Chairman Coordination FPCCI, was the master of ceremony and Mr. Karim Aziz Malik, Chairman Capital Office FPCCI, facilitated participation of the business community from across Pakistan.
The conference concluded with breakout sessions focused on TVET Governance and the integration of green technologies, setting the stage for a new era of economic competitiveness through workforce readiness.
