On June 16, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to accelerate the development of a sustainable Information and Computer System aimed at making Pakistan a regional IT hub. Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad, he emphasised the importance of modern training programs to empower youth and ensure their employment in the IT sector.

The prime minister instructed that clear terms of reference be finalised for consultancy services and a strict timeline be set for the system’s development and early completion. He said that Pakistan’s talented youth are its greatest asset and should be trained to meet international standards.

During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on progress made in the development of the IT training system, with consultancy services nearing finalisation. It was shared that 20,000 students have already received advanced IT training with the support of Huawei.

The meeting was informed that Pakistani students who underwent training last year secured the top three positions in global IT competitions, defeating 200,000 participants worldwide. The prime minister congratulated the students for making the country proud.

PM Shehbaz instructed relevant ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Federal Education, Higher Education Commission, Neotech, and the Ministry of IT, to collaborate in providing IT training at the school, college, and university levels. He also directed that training programs be included in summer camps during the current vacation period.

It was further revealed that training initiatives are being expanded nationwide, with plans to train 80,000 more students through online classes, including in remote areas such as Turbat. Additionally, 50,000 trainers will be trained in regions including AJK and GB, and 300,000 students will be trained through Bachelor’s programs and AI courses. Under the PM’s Youth Program, 2,000 students will also be enrolled in advanced IT courses.