Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Islamabad to establish dedicated Alibaba Cloud Training Centers across Pakistan under Alkhidmat’s flagship free information technology education platform, Bano Qabil, with the stated objective of equipping Pakistani youth with globally recognized skills in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The agreement was signed by Hank Shao on behalf of Alibaba Cloud’s authorized partner and Naveed Ali Baig on behalf of Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, with the collaboration formalized between Alibaba Cloud Singapore Private Limited and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, supported by Cognix Solutions Private Limited, Alibaba Cloud’s authorized partner in Pakistan.
Under the agreement, two dedicated Alibaba Cloud Training Centers will be established in Pakistan, one at the Bano Qabil Incubation Center in Karachi and the other at the Bano Qabil Innovation Center in Lahore. The centers will deliver hands-on training in cloud technologies and artificial intelligence, giving students practical exposure to tools and platforms that are increasingly central to the global technology job market. The partnership will also include recurring artificial intelligence hackathons held under the theme “AI for Pakistan’s Future,” providing young Pakistanis with structured opportunities to develop technology-driven solutions to challenges of national significance, with outstanding teams set to receive recognition and support for their work. The collaboration has been established on a non-commercial basis with the objective of promoting long-term digital skills development, enhancing employability opportunities for youth, and contributing to Pakistan’s growing digital economy.
The partnership arrives at a significant moment for the Bano Qabil platform, which has grown considerably since its launch by Alkhidmat Foundation in 2022. Alkhidmat Foundation’s Bano Qabil platform has emerged as one of Pakistan’s leading accelerated learning initiatives, with more than 1.15 million registered students and over 90,000 graduates successfully certified in various programs nationwide. The platform’s latest iteration, Bano Qabil 5.0, introduced artificial intelligence, web development, and digital marketing as core tracks, reflecting the growing demand for these skills among Pakistani youth seeking employment in both domestic and international technology markets. The addition of Alibaba Cloud Training Centers to this existing infrastructure is expected to add enterprise-grade cloud computing credentials to what Bano Qabil already offers, making its graduates more competitive for roles that require familiarity with globally recognized cloud platforms. The memorandum of understanding is being seen within Pakistan’s technology community as a meaningful step toward preparing a future-ready workforce at scale, combining the reach of one of Pakistan’s largest free skills development programs with the technical credentials of one of the world’s leading cloud service providers.
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