Syed Javed Hassan, Chairman, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) said that his organization was focused on producing demand-driven and need-based trained and skilled manpower for industry in order to improve industrial productivity and promote industrialization. He was exchanging views with business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Dr. Nasir Khan, Director General (P&D Wing) NAVTTC and Mian Akram Farid, President, Islamabad Industrial Association were also present at the occasion.
 

Syed Javed Hassan said that NAVTTC wanted close coordination with local industry to meet its needs for skilled workers and urged that ICCI should cooperate in such efforts so that with joint efforts, productivity of industries could be further improved. He proposed to develop a joint working group comprising representatives of NAVTTC and ICCI for strengthening the local industry. He said NAVTTC has planned to establish 5 Centers of Excellence in all provinces including Islamabad to promote vocational and technical trainings in the country and added that NAVTTC was ready to give Chairmanship of its Management Committee in Islamabad to ICCI nominated person. He said NAVTTC wanted to engage industry in its Accreditation Council for the benefit of industrial sector. Both sides also discussed potential areas of mutual cooperation for the betterment of local industry.
 

Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that role of NAVTTC was vital for the local industry as easy availability of demand-driven trained and skilled manpower would help the local industry to flourish. He suggested that NAVTTC should appoint Mian Akram Farid, former President ICCI and President Islamabad Industrial Association as Chairman, Management Committee of Islamabad’s Center of Excellence that would be a beneficial decision for the local industry. He assured that ICCI would cooperate in promoting linkages between NAVTTC and local industry to produce need-based manpower for industrial sector. 
 

Mian Akram Farid, President, Islamabad Industrial Association apprised the Chairman NAVTTC of the issues being faced by the local industry. He said that some steps of the government have increased the problems of industries. He said giving tax exemption to industry in FATA has affected the performance of industry in rest of the country including Islamabad due to which many local industrialists were shifting from the federal capital. He assured that his Association would fully cooperate with NAVTTC in identifying demand of local industry for skilled manpower.
 

He said being co-chairman Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) on Technical Training he was ready to cooperate with NAVTTC to train youth so that employers can get viable workforce according the demand of CPEC and related zones. He also said that there must be a portal regarding Board of Investment, Foreign Office, and Ministry of Planning to pass on information to NAVTTC about overseas matters.
 

Rafat Farid Senior Vice President ICCI also gave many useful proposals for improving the productivity of local industry. He said that upcoming FIFA world cup 2022 has great potential to pull workforce from Pakistan. He said that market oriented training courses are of vital importance. He said that NAVTTC role as apex body is laudable.