In a landmark move to empower youth and boost the nation’s digital economy, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication has trained over 600,000 individuals in IT and digital skills during the fiscal year 2024–2025. 🧑💻🚀
This remarkable progress was shared with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a high-level briefing, where he also issued directives to make IT education compulsory from Grade 6 across Pakistan.
📊 A Closer Look at the Numbers
Here’s how the training efforts break down:
- 🔹 Total trained individuals: 600,000+
- 🔹 Specialized high-end IT training recipients: 49,800
The high-end training focuses on preparing participants for competitive roles in both local and global IT job markets. 🌍💼
🎯 PM Shehbaz’s Directives: What’s Coming Next?
During the briefing, the Prime Minister laid out a bold digital vision for the country:
✅ Make IT Education Compulsory from Grade 6
PM Shehbaz emphasized:
“Promoting the IT sector and boosting exports are among our core national priorities.”
🤝 Unified Curriculum & Quality Standards
He called on provincial governments to:
- Collaborate on a uniform IT curriculum
- Ensure equal access and training quality across all education levels
🌍 Focus on Underdeveloped Areas
To ensure inclusive growth, PM Shehbaz ordered the launch of targeted IT training initiatives in regions that need it the most:
- 📍 Islamabad
- 📍 Gilgit-Baltistan
- 📍 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
- 📍 Balochistan
These efforts aim to create employment-ready talent that can compete internationally.
🌐 School Broadband Project: Fast-Tracking Digital Access
The meeting reviewed the School Broadband Connectivity Project, which is:
- Upgrading internet infrastructure in schools across Islamabad
- Laying the groundwork for digital classrooms and online learning tools
🤖 Huawei Partnership: Building Future-Ready Talent
A key highlight of the briefing was Pakistan’s ongoing collaboration with Huawei, leading to:
🏫 New Skills Vocational Centers at:
- International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)
- National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)
- COMSATS University Lahore
🧠 Specialized Training in:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cloud Computing
- Big Data
- Cybersecurity
These subjects have also been added to curricula at:
- GIK Institute (Topi)
- UET Taxila
- Mehran University (Jamshoro)
🧪 Training + Infrastructure Upgrade
In collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Education, Huawei will also:
- 📘 Train 146,367 students
- 🧪 Upgrade 1,300 labs nationwide
💡 This initiative will particularly benefit students in Islamabad, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
🧭 Vision for Pakistan’s Digital Future
PM Shehbaz’s roadmap makes it clear:
✅ Early digital education
✅ Advanced training for youth
✅ Equity in opportunity
✅ Global competitiveness
“Our goal is a digitally skilled Pakistan that leads in the global tech economy,” said the Prime Minister.
📢 What This Means for You
Whether you’re a student, teacher, or professional — this is your time to get involved:
- 🎓 Students: Look out for IT courses at your school or university.
- 🧑🏫 Educators: Prepare for updated curriculum and training tools.
- 🧑💼 Job seekers: Explore specialized government-backed training programs.
- 🧑💻 Freelancers: Use these new skills to boost your global presence!
