Punjab targets 90,000 skilled workers by 2029

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jul, 2026) The Punjab government has launched an ambitious drive to train around 90,000 students by 2029 under the Improving Workforce Readiness in Punjab Project, a six year initiative that seeks to align technical education with labour market demand by upgrading training institutions, introducing industry driven courses and producing a skilled workforce for eight priority sectors of the provincial economy.

Official documents available with Wealth Pakistan reveal that the project, which commenced in 2023 and would continue through 2029, was designed to bridge the long standing disconnect between technical and vocational education and the evolving needs of industry through training programmes developed on the basis of a comprehensive skills mapping study.

A major component of the initiative is the transformation of 19 technical and vocational institutes into Centres of Excellence, including 16 institutes operated by the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and three managed by the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC).

The upgraded institutes would deliver specialised, market oriented training in eight high growth sectors comprising automotive, information and communication technology, tourism, food processing, textile, construction, healthcare and light engineering, all identified as critical drivers of Punjab's economic expansion and employment generation.

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The project aimed to equip nearly 90,000 students with practical, industry relevant skills, replacing conventional classroom based instruction with competency based training that responds directly to employers' requirements and enhances graduates' prospects for sustainable employment.

Alongside institutional reforms, the initiative would modernise the 'Technical and Vocational Education and Training' management system and strengthen the Labour Market Information System to improve workforce planning, generate reliable labour market data and support evidence based policymaking.

The enhanced information system would help policymakers, training providers and industry leaders identify existing and emerging skills shortages, enabling technical institutes to regularly update curricula and tailor training programmes to the changing demands of the labour market.

Punjab's rapidly expanding industrial and services sectors continue to require a steady pipeline of skilled workers, particularly in information technology, construction, textile, healthcare, manufacturing and food processing. Officials believe the workforce readiness project will help close critical skills gaps, improve youth employability, strengthen technical education and enhance the province's long term economic competitiveness through a more productive and future ready workforce.