LAHORE

The Government of Punjab has decided to roll out a four-month accelerated IT training programme aimed at equipping young people with in-demand digital skills and improving employment prospects.

The initiative, to be delivered عبر an online platform, was finalised in a high-level meeting chaired by Anusha Rahman, Adviser to the Chief Minister on IT and Innovation. The session focused on expanding access to modern technology training aligned with global market needs.

Officials said participants will be divided into three tiers based on educational background — including matric-level or below, undergraduate students, and postgraduates — to ensure targeted learning outcomes.

The programme is expected to include emerging and high-demand courses such as prompt engineering, Python, and Java programming, reflecting a shift toward AI-driven and software development skills.

Participants at the meeting acknowledged that maintaining student engagement remains a key challenge in training initiatives, stressing the need for industry-aligned curricula and practical exposure. IT companies with hands-on expertise are expected to be onboarded to enhance real-world learning.

The CEO of Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has been tasked with aligning the curriculum to international standards, while officials also underscored the importance of stronger collaboration between the IT export industry and public sector institutions.

The programme forms part of a broader push under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision to enable youth to play an active role in Pakistan’s growing digital economy.