Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday granted in-principle approval for the establishment of the province’s first Skill City, alongside reforms to introduce market-oriented technical education at the matriculation level.
The proposed Skill City will house industry-aligned technical institutes, while existing vocational institutions across the province will be upgraded into Centres of Excellence. The initiative aims to provide students with practical, job-oriented training alongside formal education, enabling them to enter the workforce immediately after matriculation.
During a special meeting on “Matric Tech” and school-based skills development, the chief minister directed authorities to submit detailed plans for the Skill City as soon as possible. She emphasised hiring highly qualified instructors and developing curricula in consultation with industry experts to ensure relevance to market needs.
Under the reforms, the Technical and Vocational Education Board (TVEB) of Punjab will be affiliated with institutions in Scotland and the United Kingdom. This move is expected to improve the quality of technical training and enhance its global recognition.
The curriculum will cover a range of fields, including graphic design, media production, fashion design, data coding, tourism, industrial electrical work, plumbing, solar systems, professional cooking, and allied health sciences.
Officials said the reforms are part of the provincial government’s broader efforts to equip young people in Punjab with employable skills and to strengthen the province’s workforce for both domestic and international markets.
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