Lahore: A three-year collaboration agreement was signed between the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and the University of Management and Technology (UMT) Lahore on Saturday to advance skill development initiatives in Punjab.
The signing ceremony, held at UMT, was attended by Provincial Minister of Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain as the chief guest.
Under the agreement, TEVTA and UMT would jointly organise training workshops and events, with a focus on mutual exchange of expertise in various trades and technologies. The UMT will conduct short-term courses to enhance the capacity of TEVTA’s teaching staff, while TEVTA students will have opportunities to participate in UMT-led workshops, seminars, and conferences. Both institutions will also collaborate on research, publications, and exchange of academic resources. To facilitate these initiatives, focal persons will be appointed and a joint working group will be formed.
Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain lauded the pa
rtnership, calling it a ‘welcome step’ toward enhancing the quality of technical education. He emphasized the importance of bridging academia and industry to ensure employment for skilled workers, noting that trained personnel will be prepared to meet industry demands both locally and globally, helping generate foreign exchange. He added that TEVTA labs and courses are being upgraded, with support from the Asian Development Bank, to establish centers of excellence. Highlighting the need to promote e-commerce, the minister also promised discussions with the federal government to address internet service improvements.
UMT President Ibrahim Hasan Murad called the agreement an “important milestone,” underscoring the role of skilled manpower in meeting market demands. Chairman TEVTA, Muhammad Sajid Khokhar, noted that evening classes have been launched in TEVTA institutions to increase accessibility.
The agreement was signed by TEVTA Chairman Muhammad Sajid Khokhar and UMT Rector Dr. Asif Raza. Other notable att
endees included senior DG TEVTA Akhtar Abbas Bharwana, Prof. Dr. Abid Sherwani, and key officials from both organizations.