ISLAMABAD: National Vocational and Technical Training Commission Executive Director Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema on Thursday said the citizens should prefer imparting technical education to their children.

`It is very unfortunate that for more than six decades we have ignored development of our skill sector.` Mr Cheema said parents used to pursue conventional education and then the young graduates would request everybody, including the lawmakers, for jobs.

He was speaking at a ceremony held to distribute tool kits among students who completed training in various disciplines under the Prime Minister`s Youth Skill Development Programme.

Mr Cheema said there was a need for skill development as there was a growing market for technical hands not only abroad but also in the country, especially in the wake of upcoming CPEC projects.

He advised the students to focus on their training and assured them that they would be provided with a loan of up to Rs100,000 under the Prime Minister`s Youth Loan Scheme to help them set up their own businesses.

`If development of skill sector becomes a priority for our government and stakeholders it will surely change the destiny of our nation.

Over the past three years, the commission has trained 75,000youthin differenttrades.

Currently, the fourth batch of 25,000 youth is being trained in various designated technical institutes across the country, he added.-Staff Reporter