ISLAMABAD: Nasir Mansoor Qureshi, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), while addressing a group of visiting business leaders, delivered a message: “If we are to build a prosperous Pakistan, we must build its people first.” President Qureshi emphasized the urgent need to establish more skill development centers — not as a mere formality, but as centers of excellence that align with international standards. “Our youth are talented, energetic, and eager to contribute,” he stated. “But without proper training aligned with global trends, we are underutilizing our most valuable resource.” He drew on successful models from Germany and South Korea, where robust vocational training systems played a transformative role in economic development. He proposed a national roadmap for technical advancement, urging public-private partnerships to invest in state-of-the-art training institutes. These, he said, must be equipped with modern labs, industry-driven curricula, and certified instructors. “We need centres that teach not just skills, but the skills that matter — AI, green technology, smart manufacturing, logistics, and digital finance,” he stressed. DNA
