Pakistani S&T minister orders to establish skill centres in Balochistan to prepare locals for CPEC jobs

China Economic Net

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Science and Technology (S&T) Agha Hassan Baloch has directed to establish skill development centers in multiple areas of the Balochistan province in order to empower the locals to maximize their employment opportunities under the gigantic China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He issued these directions while chairing a briefing on the progress of Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) projects under the ministry.

Baloch also reiterated that three new campuses of COMSATS University at Quetta, Jafarabad, and Gawadar, that are already approved, should be established on priority basis to provide state of the art higher education facilities in general and uplift the standard of education in the field of Science and Technology in particular for the socio-economic uplift if the people of Balochistan.

He ordered to enhance the effective role of the ministry in facilitating people particularly in underprivileged areas.

“The ministry is working on a variety of initiatives that would boost the country’s socio-economic status,” he added.

Baloch appreciated the work of all departments and also gave directions for equitable progress in all provinces.

He directed that a state of the art forensic lab must be established in Balochistan to facilitate the local people as well as those of nearby regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

He mentioned that people in distress should not be made to wait for weeks to get their samples tested from the major forensic lab in Lahore.

Agha Hassan acknowledged the efforts of the ministry to provide quality education to the people of Balochistan through Science Talent Farming scheme and upgradation of three schools at Quetta, Pishin, and Qila Saifullah to the STEM program.

Earlier, the Federal Secretary for Ministry of Science and Technology, Humaira Ahmed and heads of all attached departments briefed the minister regarding the CPEC, ongoing development projects and their progress.