Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equipping Pakistani youth with modern digital skills, announcing that 300,000 young individuals will receive online training as part of Huawei’s ICT training programme. Chairing a review meeting in Lahore, the prime minister emphasized that digital literacy is key to the nation’s economic and technological growth.
The meeting, attended by representatives from Huawei Technologies and senior government officials, focused on the progress of ICT training initiatives and the implementation of agreements signed last year between Pakistan and Huawei in China. The Huawei ICT training programme is expected to enhance IT exports, create job opportunities, and prepare young professionals for global digital markets.
As part of the initiative, Huawei will provide specialized training in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and other advanced technologies. So far, 20,315 students have already been trained, with master trainers prepared to further impart knowledge at the local level to scale the program nationwide. The ICT Training Portal, set to be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will act as a centralized platform for online learning and skill development.
The prime minister directed authorities to ensure swift implementation of IT training projects and emphasized the importance of extending the initiative to all provinces, including Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan. He stressed that technology-driven education can help bridge the digital divide, offering youth greater access to job opportunities and entrepreneurship in the IT sector.
A delegation from Huawei Technologies reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s digital transformation journey by expanding access to quality ICT training. Officials from the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication, including Federal Minister Shaza Fatima, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Chairman of the PM Youth Program Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, were also present.
In addition to the ICT training program, the prime minister also met with elected representatives, including National Assembly members Azhar Qayyum Nahra and Abdul Ghaffar Wattoo, and Provincial Assembly member Fida Hussain Wattoo. The discussions focused on constituency issues and the overall political landscape. The prime minister urged parliamentarians to stay connected with their communities and work toward resolving their concerns.
With this major digital skills initiative, the Pakistani government is taking a significant step toward fostering innovation and workforce readiness, ensuring that young professionals have the skills required to compete in the rapidly evolving global tech ecosystem.
