Mr. Choi Choong Joo, Korean Ambassador to Pakistan and Mr. Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Federal Minister for Textile Industry of Pakistan cut a ribbon on a new training institute, the Pakistan-Korea Garment Technology Institute(PAK-KOREA GTI) late afternoon on October 17, 2011 in Karachi, Pakistan. Located in the central part of the Korangi Industrial Area, the eastern region of Karachi, the Institute equipped with systems for professional training and school management in fashion design and garment technology as well as facilities of modernized equipment, classrooms and curricula.
Modeling the professional system of technical education and vocational training practiced in the Korea Fashion and Textile Polytechnic Institute, the Pak-Korea GTI developed her own training and management system in five departments: three regular trades for three(3)-year diploma program - Garment and Fashion Technology, Knitwear Technology and Apparel Marketing; two short courses for six(6)-month certificate program - Sewing Machine Maintenance and Line Supervision. Advocated by the Korean experts with respective specialties and experiences, Pakistani instructors who took part in technical training in Korea earlier this year have prepared syllabus, teaching plan and practice guidance for each trade of education and training. For the class of each trade thirty(30) students is under of admission process to be enrolled through open application from the Academic Year 2011/2012.
The Project for Establishment of Pak-Korea Garment Technology Institute was formulated under the grant aid and technical assistance program of the Republic of Korea and designed and launched by the respective authorities of the two governments: the Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA) and the Textile Ministry of Pakistan(MINTEX). Entrusted by KOICA, the Korea Institute for Development Strategy(KDS), a consulting agency which is expertized in development planning and strategy, implemented the project in collaboration with the Korea Fashion and Textile Polytechnic Institute(KFTPI) by completion this month, October 2011.
Upon the mandate from KOICA in February 2010, the KDS organized the Project Team led by Lee Kyong Koo, Executive Director of KDS, consisted of a group of Korean advisors and provided a comprehensive consultation on establishing the institute including institutionalization of a new system of technical education reflecting Korea's development experience, design of each training department, development of curriculum, syllabus and textbooks, space planning and installation of equipment. A Master Plan of GTI was projected by Dr. Kim Taeck Duck, the Chief Advisor, former Vice President of HRD Korea assisted by the other five(5) Korean advisors - Lee Sang Jung, former Professor of KFTPI, Park Shin Woong Honorary Professor, Inha University, Jeong Sang Gil, CEO of the Korea Fashion Marketing Institute, Hyun Yeup, President of M-Tec Fashion Company, and Kim Jin Sun, Associate Professor, Daegu Mirae College, Korea - and Pakistani instructors and experts. Han Won Hee, Professor of KFTPI advised over a variety of issues and subjects in advancing the project implementation.
The Textile Commissioner's Organization(TCO) as partner agency of the project implementation organized a Project Team led by S. Ausaf Ahmed, Deputy Director of TCO and architected the Board of Directors(BOD), institutionalizing the organization and function of the Institute. And now the operation of the Institute is being led by Irfan Abdullah, Principal, under the policy guidance and financial support of the MINTEX. The project cost is estimated US$ 2.5million shared by the two governments: US$ 1.5million for software consultation, training and equipment provision borne by the Korean government; US$1million for provision of the building facility and renovation borne by the Pakistani government.
As the GTI was dedicated on schedule, the Institute is expected to help strengthen industrial competitiveness in the textile and apparel industry of Pakistan through developing advanced skilled manpower. Due to the importance of textile industry in Pakistan, the 4th largest producer of cotton, the single most important contributor of employment and export in Pakistan, the Institute will play a pivotal role and develop a strategic instrument initiating research and development in the area of textile industry further to promoting the technical education and vocational training in this field of expertise.
