Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has held a pre-bid meeting for the Upskilling Training Program (USTP) under Phase I of the National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Program (NSHRDP). Syed Kashif Jehan, Project Director of NSHRDP at PSEB, addressed the educational institutions that took part in the session. He clarified the procurement requirements for the tender and answered questions from prospective bidders about the bidding process. The meeting was interactive, and it gave participants a clearer picture of the objectives of the program, the requirements they will need to meet and the opportunities available to institutions that wish to take part. Sessions of this kind are a standard step in public procurement, since they allow bidders to raise doubts about the tender documents before they prepare their proposals and help the procuring agency receive submissions that follow the stated terms.
The tender is part of the wider semiconductor human resource effort run by PSEB under Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, which is also known as INSPIRE and is backed by a budget of Rs 4.844 billion. USTP is the training component of the program, and it is aimed at building skills in areas such as chip design and verification for engineers in Pakistan. An earlier stage of the program was covered when PSEB signed a USTP contract to train engineers in digital design and verification, and the new tender invites further institutions to join the effort. Demand for engineers who can handle physical design and verification continues to exceed supply around the world, and the program is meant to prepare a larger pool of Pakistani professionals who can work in this field at home or for international employers.
PSEB has said the opportunity is still open and has encouraged eligible educational institutions to review the tender documents carefully before they submit their bids. The deadline for bid submission is November 23, 2026, at 3:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time. All bids must be submitted electronically through the E-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS) version 2.0, which means institutions that have not yet registered on the platform should complete that step well before the closing time to avoid delays. Institutions that wish to take part can find the full requirements in the tender documents, which set out the scope of work, the eligibility conditions and the process for submitting a proposal.
For universities and training institutes with strengths in electrical engineering, electronics and computer engineering, the tender offers a chance to become part of a national program that is building the skills Pakistan needs in the semiconductor sector. Institutions that already run laboratories, employ qualified faculty and have experience in delivering technical training may be well placed to put forward competitive proposals. With the closing date now approaching, PSEB has urged interested parties to go through the documents, raise any remaining questions with the project team and complete their electronic submissions on time.
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