By Uzma Ehtasham
KARACHI: The universities minister in Sindh has said more than 172,000 young people have found formal employment after completing skills training under a provincial human resources program.
The figures were shared at a meeting of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resources Board, chaired by the provincial universities minister, Muhammad Ismail Rahu. The board’s chairperson, Tamizuddin Khero, its secretary, Munwar Ali Mithani, and other officials were also present.
Officials told the meeting that since 2008 a total of 540,758 young people have registered with the board. Of those, 422,701 have completed training, while 172,044 are now in regular jobs.
Rahu said 41% of those who completed training were currently employed in different organizations. He added that the board had been operational since 2008 and was granted formal status through legislation passed by the Sindh Assembly in 2013.
The program provides technical and vocational training to young people in both rural and urban areas, aiming to equip them with marketable skills. Admission is open to those aged between 18 and 35, with courses designed to reflect current industry needs. Separate quotas have been set for each district to ensure equal access.
Rahu said the provincial government was also supporting the children of 5,000 low-income women under the Benazir Income Support Program, offering them free training at various institutions. Each trainee receives a monthly stipend of Rs2,500. The minister said women make up a majority of those enrolled, calling it an encouraging sign.
He said the board’s wider goal was to reduce unemployment in the province, prepare a skilled workforce aligned with industrial demand, and enable young people to become financially independent and contribute to economic growth.
