Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for the inclusion of Information Technology (IT) as a mandatory subject in schools starting from Grade 6 across Pakistan, marking a significant shift in the country’s educational and technological landscape. The announcement was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Wednesday, focused on the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. PM Shehbaz underscored the importance of IT education as a critical component in preparing the nation’s youth for the digital economy, which is rapidly reshaping global job markets.
The Prime Minister’s directive aims to equip students with the necessary skills to navigate the ever-evolving world of technology, positioning IT as a cornerstone of future academic curriculums. “Incorporating IT into the school curriculum is essential to equipping our youth for the digital economy,” said PM Shehbaz during the meeting. He further emphasized that the initiative would contribute to enhancing the country’s IT sector, which is one of the government’s core priorities. Boosting IT exports is another key goal, and the integration of IT education from an early age is seen as a vital step in achieving this aim.
PM Shehbaz also called for close coordination between the federal and provincial governments to develop a unified and high-quality IT curriculum across all schools, colleges, and universities. The Prime Minister’s office issued a statement noting that the goal is to create a standardized framework for IT education throughout the country, ensuring that students in all regions, including underdeveloped areas such as Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Balochistan, have access to equal opportunities in tech education.
In line with the Prime Minister’s vision, the meeting also highlighted the importance of launching IT training initiatives, especially targeting underprivileged areas. These initiatives are designed to uplift marginalized regions by providing the necessary digital skills for individuals to compete in both domestic and international job markets. PM Shehbaz emphasized that the quality of these programs must be upheld to ensure that graduates are ready to meet the demands of the rapidly changing global job market.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication briefed the meeting attendees on the progress of ongoing projects. One notable initiative is the “School Broadband Connectivity Project,” which aims to improve internet access in schools across Islamabad. The project is part of a broader strategy to enhance the digital infrastructure of the country’s educational institutions, ensuring that students have reliable access to online resources and educational tools.
During the fiscal year 2024–2025, the Ministry has already made significant strides in IT education and training, with more than 600,000 individuals having received general IT training, and 49,800 individuals benefiting from advanced IT training. This impressive achievement reflects the government’s commitment to expanding digital education and fostering a tech-savvy workforce.
A major highlight of the meeting was the announcement of a partnership with Huawei to establish skills and vocational training centers at key academic institutions such as the International Islamic University Islamabad, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), and COMSATS University Lahore. Huawei’s specialized training programs in fields such as AI, Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Cybersecurity will also be integrated into the academic curricula of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, UET Taxila, and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology in Jamshoro.
In a further push to enhance digital education, Huawei has committed to training 146,367 students and upgrading 1,300 laboratories across the country. This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize educational infrastructure and provide students in remote areas, including Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with access to cutting-edge technological training.
The meeting was attended by key government officials, including Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Chairman of the PM Youth Program Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan. Huawei’s CEO, Ethan Sun, also participated, highlighting the company’s continued support for Pakistan’s growing tech sector and its collaboration with the government to advance the nation’s digital capabilities.
With the implementation of these measures, Pakistan is set to take significant strides toward becoming a leader in IT education and export. By integrating IT into the education system at an early stage, the government is not only equipping students with the skills needed for a digital economy but also setting the foundation for a sustainable future where technology plays a central role in the country’s development and economic growth.
