KOTRI: While empowering youth and transforming technical and vocational training scenario in Pakistan, the European Union, Germany, and Norway handed over a modernized Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to the Government of Sindh.
The Center has been upgraded with the latest technologies and training opportunities for youth and teaching staff in the province.
The new facility is the result of an upgradation of an existing TVET centre which has been supported by a TVET Sector Support Programme and funded by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Norwegian government.
Addressing the participants of the ceremony, Saleem Raza Jalbani, Chairman Sindh TEVTA appreciated the efforts of development partners especially the European Union for supporting the skills sector in the province: “Our solemn responsibility is to offer adequate training to the youth of the province in emerging technologies with state-of-the-art facilities that are available in this facility for both, teachers and trainees”.
This Centre will play a significant role in the region for a cascading model of teachers’ training and imparting skills training for the youth. Modern lab facilities, career counselling and job placement services can now be found under one roof
Mr. Ovidiu Mic, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan said that the European Union considers TVET as a priority sector for the socio-economic development of Pakistan and has supported the TVET policy and reform process for over a decade.
“The establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Kotri, is one of the key achievements of our support. We expect that it will become the benchmark for all other institutes in Sindh, providing services at par with the international standards,” he added.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Dr Sebastian Paust, highlighted “the great potential in not only relying on jobs but entrepreneurship models in Sindh under the umbrella of the Centre of Excellence. Germany is strongly committed to continuing its work in the skills sector of Pakistan until 2026.
This facility aims to develop a training environment to build a competent and competitive workforce for the job market.
The Managing Director of Sindh TEVTA and principle of this upgraded training facility, Dr Ghulam Mustafa Suhag, shed light on the historic perspective of the institute. “I am grateful to all the partners. It has been a successful journey of change through the efforts of the TVET Sector Support Programme.
About the TVET Sector Support Programme
The programme’s objective is to improve governance and private sector participation in the technical vocational education and training sector (TVET), with a view to raising the quality of skills development in line with labour market demands. The TVET Sector Support Programme is funded by the European Union and governments of Germany and Norway and implemented by GIZ in close collaboration with the National Vocational Technical Training Commission and provincial Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities across Pakistan.
KARACHI: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), the only authority to keep vigil on the illegal construction and builder mafia, the authority has been working without full-fledged director administration and director finance for the past couple of weeks, it is learnt.
According to sources, the most competent and honest officer of the authority namely M Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro was performing as Director Administration and Director Finance with utmost honesty however the powerful mafia within the authority used their influence and got him transferred from the authority’s headquarters.
SBCA Director General/Chief Executive Abdul Rasheed Solangi issued an order on August 7, 2024 transferring the most competent officer from the post.
“Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro, Director (BS-19) Administration and Finance (SBCA) Headquarter is hereby transferred and posted as Regional Director (BS-19) Hyderabad Region (SBCA) vice Engr Syed Ali Mehdi Kazmi, Regional Director (BS-19) Hyderabad Region (SBCA), who has already been allowed to work as Additional Director General-BS-20 (SBCA) on his own pay & scale”, according to notification.
“M Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro, Regional Director (BS-19) Hyderabad Region (SBCA) is also allowed to look after the charge of Regional Director (BS-19) Mirpurkhas Region (SBCA) in addition to his own duties, until further orders”, the notification adds.
Soon after the transfer of Mr Soomro, the posts of Director Administration and Director Finance remained vacant as no officers were posted on the vacant posts since August 7, 2024. “Now the deputy director is forwarding most important files directly to the Director General, sources disclosed.
KARACHI: It seems that every person in the Sindh’s Local Government Department has become powerful mafia as there is no proper check and balance on appointment, transfer and posting of employees in the most important department and the “Might is Right’ rule prevails there.
The same is the case with Town Municipal Corporation, Safoora, District East, where Mallah brothers have become mafia with the alleged political backing from the Chief Minister’s House.
According to insiders, Munawar Hussain Mallah, Town Municipal Commissioner, TMC Safoora, District East has badly hit the performance of the town administration led by the elected town chairman adding miseries to the lives of citizens.
Interestingly, Munawar Hussain Mallah, an officer of BPS-17/SCUG Service (Admin Branch), carries two fake service profiles that included his appointment on December 22, 1995. Later, he was promoted to BS-16 on October 27, 2011. He got another promotion to BS-17 in 2019.
Insiders disclosed that Munawar Mallah was initially appointed as UC Secretary in Karachi’s Quaidabad area and drew salaries as secretary union council for couple of years.
The seniority list, issued by the Local Government Department, Government of Sindh, in year 2010 did not include his name anywhere in the list. How come is it possible that Mr Mallah got promotion from BS-16 to BS-17 in 2016?
It is mentioned here that Munawar Mallah is brother of most corrupt official namely Maqsood Mallah who recently blackmailed his bosses as he was under severe disciplinary action for his massive financial corruption. He also put a major dent on the performance of most competent and honest Secretary Sindh Local Government Board Piyaar Ali Lakho. Presently, Maqsood Mallah is on stay from the Sindh High Court just to avoid any legal and departmental action from the department.
KARACHI: In blatant violation, Advisor to Chief Minister on Livestock and Fisheries Department Najmi Alam has appointed his front-man Agha Saeed as focal person of the Livestock and Fisheries Department of the Sindh Government, it is reliably learnt.
The Sindh’s livestock and fisheries department has always been a hot-cake where financial corruption of billions of rupees were corrupted and many investigations underway by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The world famous corruption made by Nisar Morai is still in the minds of the people and yet again the prominent ‘SYSTEM’ finally entered into the department in shape of installation of Najmi Alam as advisor. Under the rules, no outsider or private person can be installed as focal person, sources say.
Now, the project directors of foreign-funded multi-million projects engineers, development experts and all other official dealing with development schemes and budgets would directly report to Agha Saeed, the front-man of Najmi Alam.
Agha Saeed is a low-grade employee of the Sindh Local Government Department, who has brought into the Livestock and Fisheries Department by Najmi Alam. His appointment has shocked almost every officer of the department and a wave of unrest prevail among their ranks, sources added.