We’re delighted to share that SIAS, a founding member of the UK Qualifications Alliance (UKQA), has formally signed an accreditation and partnership agreement with the Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE).
The agreement marks the first formal implementation agreement following the landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed in June between UKQA, the Skills Development & Entrepreneurship Department of the Government of Punjab and Certif-ID International.
Following the UKQA delegation’s visit to Lahore in August, this latest step moves the partnership from strategic ambition into operational delivery.
Together, UKQA members will work with partners across Punjab to support access to internationally benchmarked qualifications, helping training providers develop skilled learners whose capabilities are aligned with the needs of both local and international employers.
The wider programme is expected to support approximately 20,000 learners, creating new opportunities for skills development, progression and employment across priority sectors.
SIAS will now begin progressing centre approval and qualification accreditation arrangements with PBTE, initially focusing on industrial process, energy and high-integrity systems. The agreement also provides a framework for the other UKQA founding members – EAL, Innovate Awarding, SFJ Awards and VTCT Skills – to progress towards their own arrangements with PBTE across their respective occupational sectors.
This is an important step towards building a comprehensive, internationally credible skills ecosystem across Punjab — supporting learners, training providers, employers and wider workforce mobility.
We’re proud to be part of UKQA and look forward to seeing this partnership develop and deliver meaningful opportunities for learners and employers in Punjab and beyond.
Steve Smith, Managing Director, SIAS and Chair, UKQA
“This agreement is an important moment because it moves our partnership with Punjab from ambition into action. From the outset, our shared objective has been clear: to combine the very best of UK awarding expertise with Punjab’s ambition for its people, creating high-quality skills pathways that respond to employer need and open genuine opportunities both within Pakistan and in international labour markets.
“I’m incredibly proud that SIAS is the first UKQA member to move into formal delivery with PBTE, but this is only the beginning. We now, as UKQA, have an opportunity, working alongside the Government of Punjab, PBTE and our wider partners, to deliver something at real scale – something sustainable, internationally credible and, most importantly, capable of changing lives.”
Adnan Chattha, Chairperson, Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skills Development
“Under the visionary leadership and clear direction of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, we are transforming Punjab’s skills system to meet international standards and the evolving needs of global employers. The signing of this MoA between SIAS and PBTE is a significant milestone in that journey, enabling our youth to gain credible, internationally recognised qualifications and access better employment opportunities at home and abroad. Our ambition is to position Punjab as a global hub for skilled manpower—turning skills into jobs, mobility and lasting prosperity.”
— Adnan Chattha
Chairperson, Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skills Development
Dr Faisal Mahmood, Chairman, Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE)
“Signing this agreement with SIAS marks an important milestone in our journey towards international recognition of Pakistan’s technical qualifications. At PBTE, we are committed to aligning our qualifications with global standards, enhancing international mobility, and creating better opportunities for our skilled youth.”
— Dr Faisal Mahmood
Chairman, Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE)
Attendees
The agreement was formally executed during an online signing ceremony on 9 September 2026 by Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS and Chair of UKQA, and Dr Faisal Mahmood, Chairman of the Punjab Board of Technical Education.
The signing follows the UKQA delegation’s visit to Lahore in August and reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to move rapidly from partnership development into operational delivery.
Attendees included Adnan Chattha, Chairperson of the Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skills Development; Mike Dawe, Consultant to UKQA; Azka Munir, Head of Programme Design at the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF); and representatives from UKQA partner organisations and PBTE.
Follow UK Qualifications Alliance (UKQA) for further updates on this important programme.
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