The professional training of driving to the jobless youth has set a road map for the development

Lahore: Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said the professional training of driving to the jobless youth of Punjab has set a road map for the development and image building of Pakistan.

He expressed these views while addressing passing out ceremony of 1200 drivers at the Motorway Police Training College Sheikhupura on Thursday. The drivers were trained at the newly established Road Safety Training Institutes (RSTIs) of National Highways and Motorway Police in 36 districts of the Punjab province. The training was imparted to the jobless youth to make them skilled workers for the homeland and middle-eastern countries in collaboration with Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA).

Rana Sanaullah Khan said it has happened for the first time in the history that jobless people belonging to poor families were trained like a disciplined force with the help of TEVTA under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif. He referred to the hurdles created by opposition during the construction of Motorways and said that now nobody can deny the utility of the motorway. The Force has credit of being corruption free in the field. Law Minister further said Punjab Chief Minister had decided to prepare 2 million skilled workers in a high profile meeting and the training given to the drivers is its practical demonstration due to the efforts of NH&MP and TEVTA.

Rana Sana said the CM could not participate in the ceremony due to movement advisory but he was sure that such professional trainings and Zarb-e-Azb Operation will eliminate security threats. He also appreciated the DIG Central Mirza Faran Baig and Commandant Training College, DIG Ashraf Zubair Siddique efforts in the training of drivers.

While addressing at ceremony IG NH&MP Muhammed Salim Bhatti said it is important day in the history of motorway police that 1200 members of youth belonging to 36 districts of Punjab are going to start their practical life after getting training of driving from Motorway Police. He added the drivers were not only trained professionally but they were also given basic training of behavioral change, computer knowhow, personal hygiene, discipline and drill. IG told the drivers have obtained driving license of Motorway Police after passing very difficult driving test.

IG went on to say that Motorway Police have prepared road safety syllabus for the students of class one to class 12 and it has been forwarded the relevant federal and provincial institutions. Motorway police have also set up its FM-95 radio channel for the awareness of road users. NH&MP has also started working on four new disciplines including road safety audit, road safety education and training, vehicle fitness and road worthiness and rescue and recovery. IG said ISO-17024 certification in the issuance of driving licenses is a big achievement under which driving license will be recognized in other countries of the world as well.

The IG requested the Punjab CM to help resolving the various cases of land transfer to federal government for the establishment of RSTIs in 36 districts. He also felicitated passed out drivers, staff of RSTIs and TEVTA over the successful completion of drivers training course.

On this occasion Serna Industries,  Raziq International and other renowned companies announced recruitment of 400 passed out drivers and other companies also announced to hire the trained drivers.

Chairman Tevta Irfan Qaisar Sheikh on this occasion said under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister for imparting training to two million youths till 2018, the TEVTA have been organizing demand oriented training programs for the domestic institutions, industries and international market. He added qualified jobless youth has been joining short courses of TEVTA to get practical skills. He informed Middle Eastern countries have been demanding trained drivers following which MOU was signed with the NH&MP to train drivers.

He further said the qualified drivers and other skilled workers will also help improving the image of Pakistan at the economic corridor. The security clearance of these drivers was obtained from Special Branch so that they could be referred in the international market with confidence.

Earlier, Chief Guest and IG awarded shields to the best performers of the driving training course selected from each district.