NAVTTC summit ignites: 16 envoys, UN champion Pakistan’s youth as pivotal global force

A high level roundtable titled “TVET: Strengthening International Cooperation for Skills Development in Pakistan” was held on Tuesday at the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission(NAVTTC) headquarters

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2026) A high level roundtable titled “TVET: Strengthening International Cooperation for Skills Development in Pakistan” was held on Tuesday at the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission(NAVTTC) headquarters.

Diplomats from 16 countries and senior representatives of UN agencies including the International Labour Organization, UNICEF and International Organization for Migration gathered to reaffirm their resolve to expand international collaboration on technical and vocational education and training to equip Pakistan’s youth with globally competitive skills.

Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan also attended the conference, which brought together senior diplomatic representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the European Union, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Morocco, Bhutan, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, France, Singapore and Mauritius.

Addressing the forum, Mr Khan described Pakistan’s burgeoning youth population as a strategic national asset, underscoring that the government was harnessing robust international partnerships and forward looking skills development initiatives to enable young Pakistanis to assert their presence in both domestic and global labour markets.

Chairperson NAVTTC Gulmina Bilal Ahmad termed the conference a compelling manifestation of a shared global commitment to cultivating a skilled, future ready workforce.

She emphasised that sustained engagement with international partners was catalysing employment generation, fostering innovation and unlocking new avenues for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Ms Ahmad further noted that, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, NAVTTC had, within a remarkably short span of two and a half years, imparted market aligned skills to hundreds of thousands of youth nationwide.

A substantial number of these trained individuals, she added, had secured gainful employment in Gulf countries, China and Europe, while a series of international agreements had significantly enhanced the global demand for Pakistani skilled manpower.

Executive Director NAVTTC Muhammad Aamir Jan delineated the organisation’s strategic trajectory, highlighting a decisive shift towards outcome based training paradigms aimed at producing an export oriented workforce attuned to international market dynamics.

He added that collaborative certification programmes and institutional linkages with global partners were being systematically strengthened.

The ambassador of Mauritius presented a forward looking proposal for bilateral cooperation, noting that Pakistan could benefit from Mauritius’ expertise in the tourism sector, while Mauritius stood to gain from Pakistan’s proficiency in construction and allied industries.

Diplomatic representatives from Germany and the United States accentuated the pivotal role of public private partnerships, asserting that such frameworks were indispensable for ensuring sustainable and inclusive development.

The European Union reiterated its steadfast support for Pakistan, pledging to maintain continuity in collaborative initiatives focused on skills development and vocational training.

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Turkmenistan’s ambassador commended NAVTTC’s comprehensive briefing, reaffirming the international community’s enduring commitment to supporting Pakistan’s development aspirations.

The conference concluded with a renewed and unequivocal pledge to further expand cooperation between NAVTTC and its international partners, with the shared objective of creating enhanced employment opportunities for youth and positioning Pakistan as a prominent global hub for skilled human capital.