LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has granted in-principle approval for the establishment of the province’s first Skills City and has directed that detailed proposals and planning be presented at the earliest. The project will feature technical education institutes aligned with industry requirements, while existing skill education institutions across Punjab will be upgraded into Centres of Excellence. It was also agreed that Punjab’s Technical and Vocational Education Board will be affiliated with institutions in Scotland and the United Kingdom to enhance the quality and global recognition of technical education. A comprehensive plan was presented to introduce market-oriented technical education at the matriculation level, with the aim of equipping students with employable skills immediately after completing their schooling. Under this initiative, young people will receive technical and practical training in fields such as graphic designing, media production, fashion designing, data coding, tourism, industrial electrician work, plumbing, solar water heating systems, professional cooking, and allied health professions. The Chief Minister directed that highly qualified instructors be engaged and that curricula be developed in consultation with industry experts to ensure relevance and effectiveness. Chairing a special meeting on “Matric Tech” and school-based skilled development, Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized her vision of making every young person in Punjab highly skilled and proficient in their respective fields. She stated that all available resources will be utilized to provide youth with market-driven technical education, enabling them to become the true strength of Punjab. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026