News Desk: Youth across Balochistan have raised their voices against prolonged delays in the provincial government’s Youth Skill Development and Overseas Employment Program, saying the uncertainty has pushed many into financial hardship and emotional distress.
In a joint appeal shared with the media, the youth thanked electronic, print, and digital platforms for consistently highlighting Balochistan’s issues, urging them to once again bring attention to what they described as a “crisis of trust” affecting the future of the province’s educated but unemployed generation.
The program, launched two years ago by the Government of Balochistan, promised to equip around 30,000 young people with technical skills and facilitate overseas employment in countries including Germany, Romania, Hungary, and Gulf states. For thousands of jobless youth, the initiative was seen as a rare opportunity to secure a dignified livelihood abroad.
According to the affected candidates, tenders for the project were awarded in 2024 to three private firms, including Turkish Consultant and Redis Consultant. Each company was assigned the task of sending between 750 and 1,000 skilled workers overseas. Thousands applied, cleared interviews and physical tests, and many later completed training programs after being selected.
The youth said that Turkish Consultant alone conducted three training batches, selecting 582 candidates. Nearly 200 of them were reportedly shortlisted for employment in Hungary in key sectors such as oil and gas, information technology, healthcare, and hospitality. Following selection, candidates submitted their passports, original CNICs, police character certificates, and other mandatory documents as part of the processing.
However, despite repeated meetings with company management and officials of the Balochistan Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (B-TEVTA), the candidates claim they were repeatedly given shifting explanations, ranging from international market conditions to administrative delays. They added that authorities had already confirmed the release of funds amounting to Rs. 153 million, deepening confusion and frustration among the trainees.
Many of the affected youth said they spent thousands of rupees from their own pockets on training fees, medical tests, and documentation, including MORA verification. Because their original documents were submitted to the companies, several candidates were unable to apply for other government or private sector jobs, leaving them stuck in limbo.
Anxiety further intensified after reports that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted a raid on the office of Turkish Consultant on Saturday, taking into custody company records along with original documents belonging to 582 candidates. The move, while welcomed as a step toward accountability, has increased fears among families regarding the safety and timely return of their documents.
The youth clarified that their demand is not directed against the government but seeks justice, transparency, and timely intervention. They appealed to the Prime Minister and relevant authorities to take immediate action against the concerned institutions, ensure the prompt return of all original documents seized by the FIA, and restart the visa and overseas employment process without further delay.
