Pakistan : Improving Workforce Readiness in Punjab Project

Education / Technical and vocational education and training

The Government of Pakistan (the Government) has set itself an ambitious target of creating 10 million jobs over five years, with a special focus on skill-building through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in its first term. Achieving this target will require much better performance from the TVET sector. The scale of improvement required can be seen from the Global Competitiveness Report 2018, which showed that Pakistan ranked 125th overall for skills with individual rankings of 90th for the quality of vocational training, 51st for the skillset of graduates, and 63rd for ease of finding skilled employees.

Since the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010, provincial governments in Pakistan are responsible for delivering, funding and regulating TVET. In Punjab, the Industries, Commerce and Investment Department (ICID) has overall responsibility for the TVET sector, although many departments and agencies are involved in the sector. There are two principal public TVET providers in Punjab. The largest is the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA), with around 400 institutes, while the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC), which serves the poor and needy, has some 270 institutes. TEVTA and PVTC rely mostly on provincial government funding. TEVTA is financed through ICID, while PVTC is funded through the Zakat and Ushr Department and the Planning and Development Department. Other TVET institutes include public providers operated by other governments departments and agencies, and a large private sector. TEVTA and PVTC also operate TVET teacher training centers. The structure of the TVET sector in Punjab is set out in Appendix 4.

The size of the TVET sector in Punjab dwarfs that in other provinces. In 2017, there were some 1,600 TVET institutes and 238,000 TVET enrolments in Punjab, representing 46.0% of all TVET institutes and 56.8% of all TVET enrolments in Pakistan. By comparison, Sindh had only 17.0% of TVET institutes and 18.1% of TVET enrolments in Pakistan in 2017. The labor market in Punjab is characterized by low levels of skills, low female participation and high levels of informality. Women who access TVET are often relegated to traditional female courses such as dressmaking and beauty salon, with little institutional support to encourage them to enter male-dominated programs such as solar-panel repair and maintenance. Women's labor force participation is only 40% that of men. There is substantial gender-segregation in the labor force, with women are concentrated in a few industries such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, and education. In contrast, the number of women in wholesale and retail trade, vehicle repair, and construction is very low. Over 60% of the Pakistan population is under 25. The large and growing youth workforce has low levels of education and has little exposure to TVET. The unemployment rate for youth is high. Labor market outcomes are particularly bad in southern Punjab. The TVET sector's challenges limit its ability to support competitiveness and inclusive economic growth through the supply of skilled workers.

Access to quality employment for workers in Punjab increased (Punjab Skills Development Sector Plan 2018)

Market relevance and inclusiveness of skills development system improved

Quality and relevance of TVET improved

Equitable access to TVET increased

TVET sector institutional framework strengthened

as of 25 April 2023: The EA has received EOIs for the 19 PIU staff positions and are currently being reviewed for shortlisting. Terms of reference for some individual consultants have been received by ADB for review.

As of 27 Jul 2023: International FM consultant advertised, expected to commence work in August 2023

PIU staff recruited: Deputy Director (Technical Content /Curriculum); Deputy Director / Project Manager (Civil Works); Deputy Director (Policy, Strategy & Technical); Deputy Director (Environment); Deputy Director (Equipment / Technical Sourcing); Gender Specialist; Communication Specialist; MIS Specialist; Assistant Director (Social Safeguard); Assistant Director (Contract Management); Assistant Director (M&E Training)

Assistant Director (Civil); Communication Specialist; Admin Officer; Office Assistant / Computer Operator

as of 25 April 2023: Request for quotation for the procurement of office equipment for PIU use has been received by ADB for review.

AS of 27 Jul 2023: NOL issued for the procurement of PIU furniture and office equipment