18 Oct
Press Release

PSDF and CTH Partner to Equip Trainees with Global Certifications, Opening Pathways to GCC Job Market

Lahore, October 2024 – The Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has entered a groundbreaking partnership with the UK-based Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality (CTH) to offer internationally recognized certifications to PSDF trainees. In line with Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision, CM Skilled Punjab Program, PSDF will train 2,500 individuals this year for international placement, potentially leading to significant economic benefits for both the trainees and Pakistan.

This pivotal agreement, signed by PSDF’s Chief Programs Officer, Asim Pasha, and CTH’s Director of Development, Asad Warraich, aims to position PSDF graduates for high-demand employment opportunities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, particularly in the hospitality, tourism, and culinary industries.

Under this contract, PSDF trainees will receive globally accredited qualifications, enhancing their credibility and employability on a global scale. It could result in an annual economic impact of PKR 390 million in remittances (calculated at a conversion rate of 1 SR ≈ 78 PKR), thereby contributing to the country’s financial growth while improving the livelihoods of those placed.

Ahmed Khan, CEO of PSDF, highlighted the transformative nature of the collaboration, saying, “This partnership with CTH is a game-changer. It’s not just about equipping our trainees with skills; it’s about empowering them with globally recognized certifications that open doors to life-changing job opportunities abroad. We are confident that this will lead to a significant increase in international placements for our trainees, providing them with the potential to build sustainable, successful careers.”

With the introduction of global testing and certification standards, PSDF will implement qualifications in demand-driven trades to ensure that graduates are equipped with industry-relevant expertise. The first batch of internationally certified trainees is expected to secure placements by mid-2025, marking a milestone in PSDF’s commitment to bridging the skills gap in Pakistan.

CTH’s Director of Development, Asad Warraich, expressed his excitement for the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to work with PSDF to provide world-class certifications to its talented trainees. This collaboration will not only help these individuals gain international recognition but also elevate their prospects in the global job market. We see this as an opportunity to empower Pakistani youth and ensure they are ready to compete for high-value roles across the GCC.”

PSDF x GIZ contract
03 Aug
Press Release

PSDF and GIZ Sign a Contract to Establish, Enhance, and Modify On-The-Job-Training Centres (OJTCs) for Women in the Textile and Fashion Industry

Lahore, 1st August 2024 – Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) signed a contract for establishing, enhancing, and modifying On-The-Job-Training Centres (OJTCs) to create equitable employment and working conditions in the textile and fashion industry. The project aims at addressing structural challenges experienced by women and persons with disabilities (PWD), mainly in Punjab.

In line with CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif vision for women empowerment and providing dignified income for person with disabilities, this collaboration strives to create and transform income and employment opportunities for women and marginalized groups. The two-year collaboration accounts for PKR 88 million investment, with an increased focus on technical and soft skills. The key training districts are Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, and Karachi.

The initiative will establish 13 industry-based OJTCs and 2 specialized centres for PWDs, training 4,000 trainees and equipping them with the skills necessary to prosper in the competitive textile and fashion sector, including leather goods, footwear, sports goods, and gloves manufacturing.
Muhammad Ubaid, Head of Project at GIZ, stated: “This has been one of its kind interventions, as we are eager to establish OJTCs for the first time in the country to empower women and create meaningful job opportunities for the growth of Pakistan’s economy.”

Ahmed Khan, CEO of PSDF stated “We are thrilled to partner with GIZ on this groundbreaking initiative to establish OJTCs in the textile and fashion industry. This collaboration represents a significant step towards creating inclusive and equitable employment opportunities for women and persons with disabilities in Punjab. By focusing on both technical and soft skills, we aim to empower women and marginalized communities to drive economic growth and inclusion.”

The combined efforts will not only boost employability but also mark as an important step toward achieving gender equity and opportunities for PWDs. PSDF has been a leading force in driving progress and hope for Punjab’s youth, achieving remarkable successes in skills development.

adnan chatha PSDF meeting for women empowerment
23 Jul
Press Release

PSDF to Reinforce CM Punjab’s Vision of Empowering Punjab’s Youth

Lahore, 22 July – During a visit to Punjab Skills Development Fund’s (PSDF) head office, Chairperson CM Task Force on Skills Development, Adnan Afzal Chattha, said that following the vision of the Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the government will usher a skilled and empowered youth population. To bridge the skills gap in a rapidly evolving job market, the government intends to boost the skill development of youth, marginalized communities, and women from rural areas.

By aligning with the Chief Minister’s vision, the Task Force aims to create sustainable employment opportunities, drive economic growth, uplift the socio-economic status of the youth, and provide high-quality human resources for international placement, especially in GCC regions.

In the meeting, it was discussed to focus on programs for skill development, which included the Chief Minister’s Skilled Punjab Development Program, Chief Minister Skills Development Program for Transgenders, and Empowering Women by Way of IT Training Across Punjab. Moreover, he also mentioned the Chief Minister’s focus on developing the ecosystem of international accreditations, targeting global job placements, resulting in a higher remittance flow and improved living standards which he emphasized would come from globally recognized certifications in IT courses by industry leaders such as Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, etc. Hence, improving the country’s freelance landscape and increasing opportunities for the workforce in the global market.

The Chairperson appreciated the PSDF’s exemplary track record of imparting training and skill development among the youth of Punjab, stating: “PSDF’s dedication to excellence and innovation, combined with its strategic public-private partnerships, plays a pivotal role in equipping Punjab’s youth with the skills necessary for a prosperous future. By leveraging these strengths, we can create a truly future-ready generation”.

Special focus on internationally recognized certifications in Hospitality, Healthcare workers, and IT along with developing soft skills components including language and personal grooming will be the areas to drive manpower export growth potential for the youth of Punjab. These combined efforts will provide opportunities for over 30,000 people. For 14 years, PSDF has been a beacon of hope and progress for Punjab’s youth, leading the charge in skills development with remarkable achievements.

PSDF UK impact bond jobs
24 May
Press Release

Pakistan-UK Collaboration for First Ever Employment Bond to Give Jobs to 40,000 Individuals

The British Asian Trust together with leading British Asian business leaders and the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has signed a landmark agreement at the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi.

The signing formalized their partnership to build Pakistan’s first Employment Impact Bond and was hosted by Martin Dawson, Deputy Head of Mission.

The human capital constraint is a critical factor for Pakistan’s slow economic growth and low global competitiveness. With over four million youth becoming working-age in Pakistan each year, equipping them with future-ready skills can serve as a powerful driver for economic advancement in the country.

he Employment Impact Bond is being designed to ensure 40,000 jobs for young people in key growth sectors and drive a focus on long-term employment outcomes while unlocking new capital to fund social impact in Pakistan.

Impact bonds are innovative financing instruments that leverage private sector capital and expertise for development, with a focus on achieving results. They shift the focus from inputs to outcomes, performance, and results through financial incentives.

Global interest in this initiative has already led to the British Asian Trust and PSDF being awarded design funding from the Outcomes Accelerator created by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and UBS Optimus Foundation and managed by Levoca. The design of the impact bond will draw on successful examples from global contexts and will benefit from the British Asian Trust and PSDF’s shared expertise in innovative finance and skilling.

Kamyla Marvi, British Asian Trust Pakistan Director, said, “This partnership with PSDF marks a significant milestone in our efforts to drive employment for the youth of Pakistan. We are excited to bring international expertise to support the local design of the country’s first impact bond for employment. We genuinely believe that this is an opportunity to transform the approach to development finance in Pakistan leading to greater innovation, efficiency and scale.”

At the signing ceremony, Ali Akbar Bosan, COO PSDF, said, “This pioneering initiative represents a revolutionary approach to funding skills training, set to transform the landscape of skilled workforce development. The feasibility study will evaluate the potential impact, scalability, and financial viability of the Employment Impact Bond, laying the foundations for future programs. This first-of-its-kind venture in Pakistan is our commitment to innovative solutions that address the pressing need for skilled labor, promising a significant shift in how skills training programs are financed and implemented.”

PSDF x PSDF
04 Mar
Press Release

PSDF and NAVTTC Join Hands to Train the Youth

The Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) through which PSDF will impart training on behalf of NAVTTC among the youth across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, PSDF Chief Operating Officer, Ali Akbar Bosan, stressed the need to learn international practices and improve the local curriculum to global standards.

“There is a need to bridge the gap between the local and international curriculum so the country produces skilled manpower in accordance with international demand,” Mr Bosan said, adding that by doing so, the Pakistani workforce can place itself better in the international market.

NAVTCC Chairperson Gulmina Bilal Ahmad urged imposing the youth emergency.

“There is a need to take targeted steps to stop failing the youth and make them useful and important to society.

There is also a need to focus more on Balochistan for churning out more and more training there,” she said.

PSDF Board member, Dr Ijaz Nabi, observed that by signing the MoU with NAVTTC, the PSDF has now been moving towards its objective of creating a skill development institution.

He further suggested expanding the PSDF across the country and industries other than through government funding.

By the virtue of MoU, the outreach of PSDF has now expanded across the country, previously limited to Punjab.

As per a statement, collaborative efforts would be made in digital training and certifi cations of locally trained youth so they could be placed in the international market easily.

Both the organisations also agreed to conduct the sector studies and training need analysis (TNA) for local and international demand generation, other than the studies and impact evaluations of the skills training programmes.

Both the organisations will collaborate in imparting skills training to the youth of the country through training programmes in the construction, hospitality, and IT sectors.

These trainings will be imparted with a focus on at least 30 per cent of graduates getting employment,” it stated.

The training would be imparted in 16 districts across the country, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Nowshera, Abbottabad, Quetta, Gilgit, and Muzaffarabad.

Furthermore, both organisations have agreed to collaborate on curriculum upgrades.

PSDF and OGDCL
12 Dec
Press Release

PSDF and OGDCL to Impart Skills Training to the Youth

Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) have formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide free skills training to 150 individuals in Attock, Chakwal, and DG Khan districts.

The collaborative initiative aims to enhance employability and create income-generating opportunities for the youth, with a special emphasis on gender inclusivity. Out of the 150 trainees, 50% will be women, reflecting a commitment to provide income generation opportunities for trainees and uplifting them. 

The training program will cover a diverse range of trades, including graphic design, beautician, domestic tailoring, electrician, hand embroidery, and welding. These trades have been selected strategically, taking into consideration the cultural norms and economic landscape of the target districts, aiming to equip the youth with skills that align with the local demand.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Ali Akbar Bosan, COO PSDF said “We believe in the transformative power of skills training to shape the future of our youth. Through this collaboration with OGDCL, we are not just imparting skills; we are fostering a culture of empowerment. At PSDF, we are committed to being catalysts of change, creating pathways for the youth to unlock their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the development of Attock, Chakwal, and DG Khan districts.”

PSDF x LSE
16 Nov
Press Release

PSDF Courses: Graduates Have Capacity to Earn More as Compared to Others

The graduates of the skill development courses offered by the Punjab Skill Development Fund (PSDF) have the capacity to earn more as compared to the others.

According to an in-depth study conducted by the Centre for Research in Economics and Business (CREB) of the Lahore School of Economics revealed that a set of courses offered by the PSDF to youth of the Punjab has resulted in gaining of their monthly income more than Rs 14,000.

The study elaborated that the PSDF initiated a partnership with Coursera, a renowned online learning platform that offers more than 7,000 courses designed by international organizations and universities to the youth of the Punjab in order to bring them at the forefront of the digital revolution.

A certificate from Coursera platform not only opens doors to the youth in Pakistan alone but also around the world, making Pakistani them globally competitive.

According to the official data of Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT), the year 2022 saw a growth of 2.74 percent as foreign exchange from freelancing stood at $397.328 million as compared to 396.243 million in 2021 in Pakistan. There were around 3 million freelancers in Pakistan in 2022. Pakistan is emerging as a hub for freelancers, and the income potential is limitless.

The study revealed that more than 1200 students completed the internationally recognized Coursera courses from the PSDF platform. Furthermore, to substantiate the impact of this collaboration is witnessed in the income of these graduates.

The transition-to-work is 9 percent points higher amongst trainees who completed the course and were unemployed before the programme and experiencing income gains exceedingly more than Rs 14,000 per month.

This showcases the tremendous potential that these courses offer, with Python, financial accounting, and graphic design courses ranking among the top three contributors to higher income gains.

According to the SBP report, Pakistan sees an annual supply of 20,000 to 25,000 fresh engineering and IT graduates but only 10 percent IT graduates are employable. There is a huge skills gap in the global IT requirements. The courses offered by the PSDF in collaboration with Coursera is helping the youth to unleash these opportunities.

UNICEF and PSDF
01 Nov
Press Release

PSDF Completes Programme for Out-of-School Adolescents(OOSA) in Punjab with UNICEF Support

The project “Evidence Generation and Design of ‘Non-Formal Education to Job Placement’ programme for Out-of-School Adolescents (OOSA) of Punjab,” marked a significant milestone with its successful completion. The project was a collaborative effort between Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) and UNICEF, with technical support from Oxford Policy Management (OPM) and Akhuwat.

The partnership harnessed collective expertise to conceptualize an innovative, evidence-based programme to integrate accelerated learning, skills training and labour market linkages. This created a model to offer a cost-effective, hybrid solution whereby accelerated learning is integrated with skills development and linked with sustainable income generating and self-employment opportunities for out-of-school adolescents.

Over 9,500 out-of-school adolescents aged between 9 and 19 from six districts in Punjab, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur, shared insights for the accelerated learning programme design as part of a comprehensive household survey. The survey also identified households with out-of-school adolescent boys and girls who would be willing to register for an accelerated learning and skills development programme.

In the pursuit of evidence generation, in partnership with other partners, PSDF actively contributed to the strategic development of a labour market linkage plan. PSDF engaged over 200 delivery partners and labour market stakeholders, fostering collaboration with Non-Formal Education partners, skills development partners and potential employers. This blueprint was designed to establish connections between the out-of-school adolescents and a diverse range of employment and self-employment opportunities.

The collaboration between UNICEF, PSDF, Akhuwat and OPM demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in effectively addressing intricate social challenges.

“Programmes like this underscore our commitment to skills education and economic empowerment and also lay the groundwork for future endeavours aimed at transforming lives through such initiatives at every level,” shared PSDF’s Chief Operating Offer, Akbar Bosan upon the pilot programme’s completion.

“Connecting accelerated learning with skills development and opportunities for job placement in one programme is quite unique in Pakistan and could help disadvantaged adolescent girls and boys bridge the gap from learning to earning”,” said Ellen van Kalmthout, Chief of Education, UNICEF Pakistan.

18 Aug
Press Release

PSDF and Export Development Fund(EDF) Contract Signing.

Punjab Skills Development Fund and Export Development Fund (EDF) have signed a partnership agreement for a skills training program to help boost exports in the textile sector, particularly in ready-made garments and knitwear.

The project titled “Export Growth Program in the Readymade Garments and Knitwear Industry” is funded by Export Development Fund (EDF) with trainings in related trades being implemented across Punjab and Sindh via PSDF. During the first year 2023-24, PSDF will train 6,500 trainees in knitwear and readymade garments sector including 20% female trainees. The trainees will receive the necessary hands-on practical training that industries require. Post course completion, 50% of trained individuals will be offered employment in those industries engaged in exporting textiles. The first batch of graduates are expected to be ready for employment in September 2023.

At the signing ceremony Mr Abbas Mehdi, Executive Director EDF said that the export potential of Pakistan’s textile sector can benefit greatly with this partnership as the right skilled resources matched with jobs is exactly what industry needs. Ali Akbar Bosan COO PSDF said that the partnership aims to increase exports through provision of skilled labor on the latest approved curricula to keep the workforce updated.

The main outcome of this project will be provision of skilled manpower to exporting textile sector, in particular to industrial associations like Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) and Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) to help scale exports.

08 Aug
Press Release

PSDF and LWMC Sign MOU to Provide Skills Training for Children of LWMC Staff

PSDF and LWMC have signed a multi-layered MOU under which they will collaborate to provide technical and vocational trainings in and around Lahore to the eligible children of LWMC staff that fall within PSDF’s mandate.

PSDF will provide skills training to LWMC staff’s children including customized programs for women and non Muslim youth, by reserving up to 10% of its seats for its ongoing skilling programs with training service providers exclusively for LWMC staff’s children. This will help them get prepared for income generation in job markets, self-employment & entrepreneurship. The skills trainings trades range from traditional skills to information technology and are designed on the latest approved curricula. In the second stage of the MOU, LWMC will collaborate with PSDF to fund whole training schemes exclusively for the eligible children of LWMC staff to help uplift worker communities in and around Lahore.

At the signing ceremony, COO PSDF said “Partnering with LWMC to help break the cycle of poverty in marginalized communities is a core mandate of PSDF, and we are proud to be working with the team to manage this change and help uplift the lives and financial independence of communities”. Babar Sahab Din, CEO LWMC said “the skilling partnership is all about helping the families of our staff and employees in Lahore to develop economically. We have a huge task ahead of us and this is the right step to integrate and grow our communities. ”

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