A startling revelation that 47 percent of trainees under national skill development programmes remain unemployed prompted a Senate sub-committee on Wednesday to demand a complete five-year record from the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), placing the body’s financial management and performance outcomes under intense scrutiny.
According to an official statement today, the directive was issued during a meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, which convened at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Kamran Murtaza.
Initiated on the agenda of Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, the comprehensive review examined NAVTTC’s governance arrangements, funding mechanisms, partner selection processes, and employment results over the past half-decade.
In its briefing, NAVTTC identified itself as the apex national body for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. The Commission detailed that its partners are selected through public advertisements, programmes are monitored via independent evaluations, and funds are disbursed in phases contingent on verified enrolments and performance benchmarks.
However, tracer study findings from the Skills for All initiative and the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme painted a concerning picture. Data showed that only 53 percent of graduates were employed at the time of the survey.
Among those who secured employment, 38 percent reported monthly earnings exceeding PKR 50,000, while another 18 percent earned between PKR 31,000 and PKR 50,000.
In response to the low placement figures, committee members emphasised the urgent need to strengthen post-training employment linkages and enhance outcome-tracking mechanisms.
During deliberations, Senator Sarmad Ali raised concerns regarding the geographical concentration of a Huawei-supported initiative for 2,000 participants in Lahore, highlighting the importance of equitable provincial representation.
NAVTTC officials clarified that the corporate partner determines training locations but affirmed the Commission prioritises achieving a minimum 60 percent employment rate in such collaborations. It was noted that future programmes are anticipated for Karachi.
Consolidating its instructions, the panel directed NAVTTC and Ministry officials to submit comprehensive documentation before the next session. This includes detailed funding allocations, disbursement procedures, lists of partner institutions, programme advertisements, and all third-party evaluation reports.
Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan proposed holding future meetings or conducting field visits in Karachi, Quetta, Skardu, and Kashmir to assess on-ground implementation, a suggestion welcomed by the Convener.
In his concluding remarks, Senator Kamran Murtaza reiterated the committee’s commitment to ensuring measurable outcomes, fiscal discipline, and transparent governance across all NAVTTC initiatives. The meeting was adjourned with instructions for the submission of the requested records.