ISLAMABAD: Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Wednesday said there are 768 training institutes functioning in the country for workers’ training in various fields. In a written reply to a question of Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, he said that 329 institutes are running by the government while the rest of the institutions are of private sector.

Giving a provinces-wise break up the government is running 241 institutes in Punjab, 36 in Sindh, 39 in NWFP and 13 in Balochistan. During last two years 400,000 workers were trained at these institutes in different course, he added. Replying to a question of Senator Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, the Minister said that his Ministry has recently launched a project to maintain the computerized database of out-going emigrants and of returning migrants.

He said Rs. 39.5 million project was initiated to complete the networking system of Bureau (Hqs) with its seven regional offices. To computerize those persons who are proceeding abroad for employment only. To computerize migrant workers who come back either on completion of their work or contract.

To computerize all emigration data in multifarious forms since creation of the Bureau in 1971 and to have reliable database for undertaking activities to enhance manpower export. Sarwar said that 10.27 million has so far been spent on the project.