Pakistan is becoming a hotbed of unskilled labour, pushing the embattled economy further down and frustrating all strategic planning being mapped out by the government, reports tns.thenews.com.pk.

Economist Dr Farhan commented: “Pakistan’s labour market needs at least one million skilled capital of human resource to help Pakistan succeed in economic blueprint for 2015-16 envisioning GDP growth of 5.5%.”

Pakistan’s Bureau of Statistics revealed that the country needs skilled manpower in ten major areas; including textile, agriculture-based industry, oil and gas, steel fixing operations, leather, services, livestock, dairies, nursing, and general technicians.

“Revamping links between technical institutions and industry to increase employability, upgradation of curricula, timely funding for professional and technical projects and promotion of around 3.2 million SMEs are the pivotal measures to prepare pool of required labour force for a healthy economy,” Dr Farhan added.

A senior official in Pakistan’s National Internship programme advised that approximately 92% of the country’s unemployed people are considered unskilled, while the remaining 8% have some education but lack any skill.

The country’s Technical Upgradation and Skilled Development Company (TUSDEC) has been working with the National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (NVTEC), and the Technical Education and Vocational Institute (TEVTA) to gradually minimise Pakistan’s skilled labour deficit.

Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, chairman of TEVTA, advised that a focus on technical education is mandatory for GDP growth: “Upgradation of curricula may realise the dream of cutting deficit of skilled manpower in the country.”

“Pakistan has a population of 190 million people with a large number of youth accompanied by expanding industrial sector. But, it is a matter of concern that both sides do not facilitate each other. Now Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between [the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry] and TEVTA may do wonders for the industry,” Mr Sheikh added.

More than 3.5 million of the country’s labour force is either underemployed or unemployed because of widening gap between the supply and demand of skilled manpower.

The government is being called on to streamline its effort by teaming up TUSDEC, TEVTA, all chambers of commerce, economists and industrialists to do what is needed before it is too late.