LAHORE - The Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) has successfully imparted technical skills to about 4,000 students of 28 selected 'deeni madaris across the Punjab. About 50 per cent of these trained students have now become financially independent while doing their own business and self-employment. This effort by TEVTA to train youth of madaris has started bringing tangible results as a number of madaris has demanded to establish such training centers at their premises. Chairman TEVTA Mohsin Syed informed this while addressing in a meeting of the madaris heads and TEVTA officers here at its Secretariat. He said keeping in view the demand by deeni madaris, for imparting technical training to their students at their premises, TEVTA has planned to set up further new 30 technical training centers at madaris. A new lot of 10,000 students of madaris would be given technical training while offering four trades in addition to their religious education. Chairman TEVTA said the purpose to offer four technical courses at deeni madaris is to empower the youth engaged in religious education with employable skills. Technical training would enable them to have more options for sustainable livelihood and to meet with the demand of skilled workers in the society as well. While addressing the gathering, TEVTA chief disclosed that Saudi Arabia and Qatar were in dire need of trained manpower in the field of construction sector. Authority has directed the TEVTA management to prepare the feasibility to offer construction related courses at the deeni madaris. In order to enhance the capabilities of the instructors engaged at deeni madaris, special training programs would be started to train them in latest teaching techniques. On the demand of deeni madaris, one to three years technical training courses would also be offered in phases, Chairman concluded. The meeting was attended by heads of Rahimia Welfare Society Sahiwal, Al-Madina Islamic University Gujranwala, Jamia Islamia Trust GT Road Kamoki, Jamia Qasmia Lajput Nagar, Shahdara, Taj Dar-e-Madina Shahabpura, Sialkot, Jamia Ashrafia Ferozepure Road, Lahore, Darul Uloom Muhammadia Loco Workshop, Lahore, Jamia Siraj-ul-Huda, Mandi Baha-ud-Din, Jamia Nizamia Rizvia Sheikhpura, Jamia Ashaat Aloom, Chistian, Khair ul Madaris, Multan and TEVTA officers.