MITHI: Ms Aruna Lohana, a Thari girl hailing from Mithi town, who is among other 50 girls from the desert district of Tharparkar, getting the training of computer graphics under Girls Pathway to Skill Development organized by Thar Education Alliance with the active coordination of Bank Alfalah is rightly tipped to be a real model for many Thari girls. She strongly believes that hard work always pays back provided it is done with dedication and with a view to achieve certain goals in life so that other girls of her desert region could emulate her. Ms Lohana, sharing her feelings, looked excited to be part of those girls, who have been getting Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in realizing economic and social empowerment of young Thari women.
Aruna in her message to other Thari girls said " if someone has the passion for learning she can do it with dedication to attain their economic independence " She proudly added that she was evolving and improving everyday after she was provided with a great opportunity to change her lifestyle. Aruna, without mincing a word, gave credit to officials of Thar Education Alliance and Bank Alfalah for their joint venture where 49 other Thari girls have been given the golden chance of getting skilled training both for computer graphics and sewing and embroidery, who according to her, after completing their training would not only be self-dependents in earning for them and their families but could also be the role models for several thousand Thari girls, who were wishing to avail these same opportunities.
The initiative has been taken in the desert region at the time when the country badly needs comprehensive policies, renewed and coordinated efforts to train the youths especially girls to not only empower them but to give them jobs in a conducive environment. Pakistan is rightly called the country of young people where around 64 percent of the population is under the age of 30. But sadly, a big part of these young people are unemployed, as different surveys have revealed in recent years.
Every year, thousands of students complete their education, but they do not find good jobs. One of the main reasons is a lack of skills. Technical education can reduce this problem. With skills, young people can get jobs not only in Pakistan but also in other countries. According to reports, Pakistan needs around 2 million skilled workers every year for its industries. But the number of skilled people is very low. If more youths get technical education, then Pakistan can reduce unemployment and also increase economic growth. Technical education also helps in reducing poverty because it gives people a chance to earn with dignity.
The federal government for the fiscal year 2025-26, earmarked over Rs 19 billion for various schemes under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). These funds specifically target skill development, teacher training, and educational infrastructure improvement throughout the country to boost the initiatives being undertaken to provide the required opportunities to millions of the people.
Whereas, the Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) under Mr Junaid Blund Khan, the Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh, manages a large network of 252 plus institutions, aiming to provide market-driven skills, though its performance is marked by both modernization initiatives and significant operational challenges. The Sindh government prioritized Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) with a substantial allocation, including a Rs4.65 billion budget approved by STEVTA for FY 2025-26. Additionally, the Sindh budget 2024-25 earmarked Rs6.9 billion for technical education, while the province has also committed significant funds to digital skills and university education.
According to available details the initiative aimed at empowering Girls Through Skills during the recent days as many as 25 girls participated in the Monthly Test for the Graphic Designing Trade under the Girls Pathway to Skill Development Program. The young learners showcased their growing skills in graphic design, reflecting their dedication and passion for digital creativity.
Such regular assessments not only tracked learning progress but also strengthened the girls’ digital and creative abilities preparing them for future opportunities in the modern workforce. This impactful initiative has been made possible with the support of Bank Alfalah and implemented by Thar Education Alliance, which has already been at forefront to bring innovation and to equip Thari girls not with quality education through multiple programs and also training them for innovative skills including Computer Graphic Designs to make them able enough to earn for them and their families in much better way and in conducive environment.
Mr. Partab Shivani, the CEO of Thar Education Alliance, the representatives of Bank Alfalah and the concerned officials believe that such steps would greatly help to understand the extent TVET could benefit young women to generate income through utilizing skills, gain control over family resources, enhance confidence in social interactions, and enable them to make social choices at the household level. They believe that since the desert district lacks development, particularly educating the girls and then making them self-reliant for earning both for them and their families.
Sharing the details of the mega initiative, Mr. Partab Shivani added that 25 girls were given the training for sewing and embroidery for four months while an equal number of Thari girls were provided with courses of computer graphic designing for the period of six months. He thanked the officials of the bank, who provided the required funds for the noble cause under Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR). "Once the training sessions are completed the girls, 25 trained girls for the sewing and embroidery will be given the sewing machines and laptops will be given to three toppers so that they could be self-dependent in their lives," he added
The people from different walks of life including elected representatives, right activists, members of the civil society and local Tharis have highly lauded launching of such projects, which according to them, were very productive steps towards bringing the improvement among the lives of Thari girls, who once were not only deprived of their basic right to education but were forced to do cheap labour for their survival under harsh conditions in the rain-dependent arid zone of the country. They added that 50 girls with skilled training would not only earn for them but for their families and they could be role models for other Thai girls. They termed the initiative as a revolutionary step towards empowering the girls and hoped that more such moves would be made to empower the girls of Tharparkar district.