Islamabad:

Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Education, National Heritage and Culture, Farah Naz Akbar, informed the National Assembly that the government has taken several initiatives to bridge the skill gap and adapt the Pakistani workforce with the demands of the Middle Eastern labor market.

In response to a question during the session, she highlighted key measures, including the creation of Pakistan Skill Company and Pakistan Skill Development Fund to unite technical and vocational education throughout the country and create better employment opportunities for Pakistani workers abroad.

She also said that the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) rules have been revised to adapt Pakistan’s qualifications to the standards for destination countries, including those in the EU and GCC.

This step aims to improve the global competitiveness of Pakistani labor and increase qualified work card exports. The government is to integrate life skills and soft skills-as communication, problem solving, teamwork, interpersonal skills and work ethics-to technical and vocational education programs.

These skills are widely appreciated by Middle Eastern employers and are crucial to success in the workplace. The curriculum is also updated to reflect the latest industry developments and technologies, ensuring that Pakistani workers are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills to meet the developing job market requirements in the Middle East.