Independent Report
Quetta, October 14:
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti presided over a review meeting on the Youth Skills Development Program at the Chief Minister Secretariat. Present were Provincial Minister for Labour & Manpower Sardar Ghulam Rasul Umrani, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Secretary Labour Niaz Ahmed Nichari, Secretary Finance Imran Zarkoon, MD BToTTA Tariq Javed Mengal, consultants, and departmental officials.
Detailed briefings were presented regarding current progress, recruitment delays, and the deployment of trained youth abroad. Bugti expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace and low numbers of foreign placements, calling the delay “unacceptable” given the program’s importance for Balochistan’s youth. He directed officials to expedite recruitment and training processes to maximize overseas job placements for qualified youth.
The meeting resolved that to ensure transparency and quality, both national and international consulting firms will be engaged. Bugti also criticized BToTTA and consultant agencies for underperformance, urging immediate improvement and more rapid execution. He reiterated that the government is committed to empowering Balochistan’s youth with employment-ready skills, stressing that the program’s goals extend beyond overseas placements to building confidence, modern training, and economic self-reliance. All obstacles were to be removed, and measurable outcomes must be presented at the next meeting.
