Pakistan Software Export Board and NED University of Engineering and Technology have announced the commencement of classes under the Prime Minister’s National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Programme, officially known as INSPIRE, marking the beginning of a significant national effort to build a trained semiconductor workforce within Pakistan. Classes began simultaneously at NED University of Engineering and Technology, UIT University, and Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology on Monday, May 11, 2026, bringing together selected trainees from across the country under one of the most technically specialised training initiatives the country’s technology sector has undertaken.
The INSPIRE programme is focused on Digital Integrated Circuit Design and Verification, two disciplines that sit at the core of semiconductor product development and that Pakistani professionals have historically had limited structured pathways to access at scale. Led jointly by NED University and PSEB under the broader INSPIRE initiative, the programme represents what both institutions describe as an important national step toward building Pakistan’s future semiconductor workforce, with the twin goals of creating high-value technical employment opportunities for Pakistani youth and laying the groundwork for Pakistan to participate meaningfully in the global semiconductor supply chain. The curriculum is designed to be both rigorous and applied, equipping trainees with the practical skills needed to contribute to chip design and verification projects that meet international industry standards.
PSEB extended congratulations and best wishes to all selected trainees as they embarked on what it described as an exciting and transformative journey, expressing hope that the experience would serve as a foundation for innovation, excellence, and global leadership in chip design and verification. The launch of the National Upskilling Training Programme under the INSPIRE initiative signals a deliberate and coordinated effort by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Tech Destination Pakistan, and Pakistan’s leading engineering universities to position the country’s semiconductor human capital agenda on a firmer and more ambitious footing, building on the recognition that the future of Pakistan’s technology export economy will increasingly depend on its ability to deliver high-skill, high-margin services in domains where global demand is growing rapidly.
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