Islamabad: The Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage, and Culture convened at the National Assembly Secretariat under the chairmanship of Dr. Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi to discuss several legislative bills and vocational training initiatives. Key agenda items included the deferral of important education and technology bills, with significant emphasis placed on enhancing the quality of vocational training through the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the session addressed multiple bills including The International Institute of Technology, Culture and Health Sciences Bill 2024, and The South City University Bill 2024, among others, which were postponed to a future meeting. The committee also reviewed a comprehensive briefing by the Executive Director of NAVTTC, outlining the commission’s strategic initiatives and collaborations aimed at improving vocational education and aligning training with market needs.

The NAVTTC has notably advanced its mission since 2006, training over 600,000 individuals and integrating various sectors into vocational training, like agriculture, to foster rural development and employment. The standing committee expressed its support for NAVTTC’s continuous efforts to refine skills training and improve job placement rates for trained individuals, particularly those from underserved rural areas.

Moreover, the committee raised concerns about the challenges faced by Pakistani expatriates and the need for better alignment of training programs with actual job market demands. The session concluded with a briefing on cultural heritage preservation efforts and the formation of a sub-committee to assess educational institutions in Islamabad.