At least 100 young people from Gwadar district will be trained and prepared for overseas employment under the Chief Minister’s Youth Skill Development and Overseas Employment Programme, Gwadar Pro reported on Tuesday quoting a notification issued by the district administration in Gwadar.

The initiative is being implemented through the Balochistan Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (BTEVTA) as part of the provincial government’s efforts to equip youth with market-relevant technical skills and provide job opportunities abroad.

Under the programme, each district has been directed to nominate a minimum of 100 eligible, medically fit candidates within two weeks.  Overall, the province aims to train at least 30,000 youths for employment opportunities, mainly in Gulf countries. 

BTEVTA says it has already facilitated overseas job placements for 250 young people in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. A district-level committee led by the Deputy Commissioner Gwadar will supervise the selection process, including application screening, medical examinations and physical fitness assessments. 

Health officials and technical experts from local training institutes will also be part of the panel to ensure transparent, merit-based selection. The programme will offer overseas opportunities in trades including welding, electrical work, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, HVAC technology, machinery and forklift operation, professional driving, storekeeping, sales, healthcare assistance, nursing, housekeeping and security services, among others.

Applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old, medically fit and literate. Omer J. Baloch, a faculty member at Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) who belongs to Gwadar, told Gwadar Pro the programme will help address unemployment while creating a pool of skilled workers able to support both their families and the provincial economy.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China