Zubair Qureshi
Islamabad
Various projects, trainings, workshops and startups conducted under Ministry of Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication have benefitted more than 380,000 youths, mostly students in last one year of the IT Ministry.
Today they are more confident and looking for out-of-box solutions using their skills and expertise.
This was said by IT Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui while talking to media here Friday. The minister said IT Ministry was committed for the development and uplift of country’s youth.
According to details, a total number of 389,071 students received training in IT Ministry’s workshops and other projects of empowering the students.
The Minster said youth of Pakistan had great talent and Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication is fully focusing on the development of youth. He said that Ministry of IT and Telecommunication is endeavouring to equip youth with IT and digital skills to increase their employability potential. He said that adoption of technology is vital for the uplift and prosperous future of our youth.
The number of students trained in Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal project of Universal Service Fund (USF) was 10,000 during this period.
Under another programme of USF, ICT facilities were provided in Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) schools and colleges, and about 100,000 students have been imparted training since August 2018.
Similarly, Under Digiskills.pk program of Ignite, 215,527 students were enrolled and given online training during last one year.
Under Final Year Project Fund (2018 and 2019) of Ignite, since August 2018 over 3,700 students of different educational institutions have been provided fund to complete their projects.
About 1,023 startup members contributed for development of startup ecosystem with the support of Ministry of IT through Ignite and 10,481 jobs were created through National Incubation Centers (NICs) at Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta from period from August 2018 to September this year. During period from August 2018 to September 2019, 47,804 youth attended workshops/training at NICs.
Under Virtual University projects, 63 students were involved in 11 different projects since 2018 to up till now.
About 410 students benefitted from multiple conferences/seminars and workshops organized by Virtual University, and 54 students from different institutions were provided training, internships and research facilities at VU from August last year to September this year. Nine students of Virtual University were awarded Seed Money by Student Startup Business Center.
