Alkhidmat Foundation has organised the Digital Pakistan Consultative Session, bringing together industry professionals, technology experts and stakeholders to discuss how the country’s digital economy can grow and how young people can take part in it. Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, Patron in Chief of Bano Qabil Pakistan, attended the event as Chief Guest. The session gathered people from the technology sector, education and the development community in one room, with the aim of exchanging ideas on how Pakistan can make better use of its young population in a fast changing digital economy. Alkhidmat Foundation used the platform to present Bano Qabil, its initiative that trains young people in information technology skills, and to listen to the views of those who work in the industry every day. The consultative format allowed participants to share practical suggestions on what employers need, what training programs can offer and where the two sides can work more closely together.
A detailed presentation on the initiative formed an important part of the programme. It outlined the vision behind Bano Qabil, the programs that are currently running, the achievements recorded so far and the commitment of the Foundation to equip young people with industry relevant IT skills and with meaningful professional opportunities. The presentation gave guests a clear view of how the initiative operates and the type of results it is aiming for, which helped frame the discussions that followed. For many in the audience, it also served as an introduction to the ways in which a welfare organisation can contribute to the country’s technology workforce by combining training with links to the job market.
The discussions that followed covered digital transformation, youth development, cooperation between industry and academia, and the need to build up Pakistan’s IT ecosystem through shared effort and strategic partnerships. Speakers and participants noted that no single organisation can close the gap between what graduates learn and what companies expect from new employees. Universities, training providers, technology firms and charitable organisations each hold part of the answer, and the session was designed to bring these groups into the same conversation so that ideas could turn into joint action. Young people who complete skills training often need a clear route into employment, and the exchange between industry representatives and program organisers was meant to help create such routes.
One of the main highlights of the event was the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The agreements mark a meaningful step toward industry collaboration, the creation of new opportunities and the connection of skilled young people with emerging career pathways. By formalising these partnerships, the organisers and their partners have set a framework for working together beyond the day of the session, and graduates of the program may find more openings with companies that have joined the effort. The consultative session reflects a wider interest across Pakistan in developing digital skills at scale, and it shows how organisations from different sectors can come together to support young people who are preparing for careers in technology.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
