RAWALPINDI - Certificate distribution ceremony of technical courses of National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) was held at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) Rawalpindi here on Tuesday. These courses were conducted jointly by FJWU and NAVTEC with an optimum objective of training the unskilled youth to prepare a skilled work force in order to control the skills shortage in the country. Chief guest of the ceremony was Federal Minster for Education Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani who awarded appreciation certificates to the participants and position holders of the courses in various technical disciplines. He appreciated the students and lauded the efforts of the University for extending vital assistance and fullest support in accomplishing the task of skilled development through providing quality training. Federal Minster also appreciated the university for being the only institution providing practical training to the females of the society in collaboration with NAVTEC. The first batch of these courses was initiated in September 2008. So far six batches have completed their training. This ceremony was conducted to acknowledge the efforts of students who have successfully completed their training. Earlier, Vice Chancellor FJWU, Professor Dr Saeeda Asadullah Kahn in her welcome address said that the training courses had been designed to meet the shortage of skilled labour in the country. She said that FJWU had always participated in different initiatives taken by the government for socio economic development. FJWU aims to advance learning and it provides the young females of the society with practical knowledge to make them confident and to enable them to contribute their share in the progress of the country and earn their livelihood with dignity, she maintained. Adnan Khawaja, Chairman NAVTEC while speaking on the occasion said that this professional training would develop practical skills in the youth that would be beneficial in achieving sustained economic growth and social development. He said that the collaboration between FJWU and NAVTEC would continue in future. The university shields were awarded to the Chairmen NAVTEC, Regional Director NAVTEC and focal person FJWU Nighat Reza for their contributions in making the training program a success. Professor Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan, Vice Chancellor FJWU, also presented university souvenir to the honourable guest Federal Minster Mir Hazar Khan Bijalani.