KARACHI – Underlining the importance of vocational education, the Sindh government has decided to establish the country’s first “Technical Vocational University” in Hyderabad and to impart technical education to at least 0.1million youths at various industries under an internship programme this year.An approval to this effect was given at the 11th meeting of the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority’s (STEVTA) board of governors held on Wednesday at the Chief Minister’s House.With Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in the chair, the meeting decided to present a ‘Provincial Apprenticeship Bill’ before the Sindh Cabinet and Sindh Assembly in its next session. The meeting also gave an approval to an internship programme through which 100,000 youngsters would be imparted training in various industries. Besides, the STEVTA governors’ board approved vocational training programmes for prisoners in jails across Sindh for the welfare of the inmates.It was decided that the production unit of Swedish College would be reactivated and started, while efforts would be made to ensure provision of official furniture for various government departments, particularly the education and health departments. It also approved the STEVTA budget for the fiscal year 2012-13. The non-development budget is to the tune of Rs1,347 million and that of non-development budget of Rs1,200 million. The meeting approved resumption of production unit of Swedish College and ensuring provision of furniture to all the government organizations especially those of the Health and Education departments.Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that there was an acute need of technicians and skilled knowledge in various trades, in the country and also abroad. He said the present government was striving to equip the youth to meet the requirements of challenging jobs in industrial, technical, vocational and social sector. Qaim further said that various youth development programmes had been initiated under the Benazir Youth Development Programme and other schemes. He added that during the past four years, more than 150,000 youths were imparted trainings in various trades, and most of them had obtained jobs in government, semi-government, private institutes, factories, industries and others agencies.The chief minister further said that under the vision of Benazir Bhutto and directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, special emphasis had been made to further promote technical and vocational education in every nook and corner of the province. He stressed upon all responsible to share their responsibilities for this purpose and youth knowing technical and vocational trades be encouraged accordingly. Meanwhile, STEVTA Managing Director Hafeezullah Abbasi, in his detailed briefing, informed the meeting that 34 institutes were being functionalised in 34 newly-constructed buildings, while five regional directorates had also been established in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Larkana. The meeting was attended by Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Enam Memon, Sindh Education Secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon, Sindh Secretary, Kaleem Lashari, Special Secretary Finance, Secretary IT, Chairman Sindh Board of Technical Education Saeed Ahmed Siddiqi, Chairman PSO Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui, General Manager HR Corporate Affairs Engro Chemicals Tahir Javed; Registrar Mehran University of Engineering & Technology Dr. Tahaa, Regional Director NAVTTC Mr. Mushtaq Ali and others.