Opening the Employee Appreciation ceremony, the chief guest, Minister of State MoFE&PT, Ms. Wajiha Qamar, praised the progress of National Skills University Islamabad as “exemplary” and urged that such ecosystems of skills, sustainability, and innovation be copied across the country. It was a statement that set the tone for an event that was more about meaningful progress than formality. The Employee Appreciation Ceremony in Islamabad was not just a celebration but also a clear declaration of intent: that universities focused on skills, environmental responsibility, and global relevance can quietly yet decisively shape the nation’s future.
Faculty members, administrators, technical staff, and university leadership gathered to reflect on a year that cemented NSU’s position as one of Pakistan’s most progressive public institutions. One of the key milestones was its ranking as the country’s second-best sustainable federal university. This honor places environmental responsibility alongside employability and exemplifies a model of public education that aligns with both global and economic realities.
The ceremony also emphasized NSU’s unique international reputation. As Pakistan’s only Centre affiliated with UNESCO-UNEVOC, the university has become a bridge between global best practices in technical and vocational education and local workforce requirements. Its designation as a European Centre of Vocational Excellence further shows a rare level of international trust in a Pakistani public university dedicated to skills training.
The construction and expansion of the NSU Sarmad Tanveer Campus in Muridke reflect a broader goal of bringing skills-based education beyond the capital and into regions where opportunity has traditionally lagged potential. At the same time, the university’s achievement of Qualification Awarding Body status from the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission has strengthened its ability to develop nationally recognized credentials aligned with industry demands.
Outcomes for learners remain the most important indicator. The university reported that 133 graduates from its first graduating class of 2025 have already entered the job market, with several securing competitive scholarships for further study abroad. Across its main and sub-campus, in Muridke, Sheikhupuraabove 2,000 students got training in various skills trades, signaling increasing confidence among young Pakistanis in skills-based pathways to economic mobility.
NSU’s contribution to the NAVTTC–TAKAMOL Skills Verification Initiative enhanced its national influence. Over 1200 skilled professionals were evaluated across various trades at the university’s main campus before moving on to employment in Saudi Arabia, highlighting that technical education increasingly supports labor mobility and remittance-driven growth.
The founding vice chancellor of NSU credited the university’s achievements to the collective effort of its staff. He described the year’s milestones not as final goals, but as proof of a deeper dedication to quality vocational education, innovation, and international collaboration.
Certificates of appreciation were presented to employees across all levels, serving as a symbolic yet meaningful recognition in a sector where institutional success is often disconnected from the people who make it happen.
Founded as Pakistan’s first federal university dedicated solely to technical and vocational education, National Skills University Islamabad has evolved into a Center of Excellence for competency-based learning and workforce development. Its progress demonstrates that when skills, sustainability, and dignity of work are prioritized in public policy, meaningful change can happen quietly but enduringly.
