Pakistan Software Export Board has signed agreements with National University of Sciences and Technology, ESUPAK at University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, and NED University of Engineering and Technology to establish Semiconductor Education and Research Clusters across Pakistan. The agreements were signed under the National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Program known as NSHRDP INSPIRE, marking what the board described as a significant step in building a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem in the country.
The regional Centres of Excellence created under these agreements are intended to strengthen semiconductor education, postgraduate research, faculty development, advanced laboratory infrastructure, and collaboration between academia and industry. During the first year of implementation, covering 2026 to 2027, 270 students will receive specialized education and training in semiconductor technologies, with 90 students enrolled at each of the three regional clusters. Pakistan Software Export Board said the initiative is ultimately expected to produce 2,200 undergraduate and postgraduate semiconductor graduates and researchers, contributing toward the broader NSHRDP INSPIRE target of developing more than 7,200 semiconductor professionals by 2030.
The signing ceremony was attended by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Secretary of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Software Export Board, and senior representatives from the three lead universities. The minister acknowledged the efforts of Pakistan Software Export Board and its implementation partners in moving the initiative from planning into active implementation, and also noted progress made under the Upskilling Training Program, a related effort already engaged in training Pakistan’s emerging semiconductor workforce.
The agreements build on earlier steps taken under the NSHRDP INSPIRE programme, including a separate fully funded digital integrated circuit design and verification training initiative launched through a consortium of engineering institutions. Together, these efforts reflect a coordinated push by Pakistan Software Export Board and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to build a structured pipeline of semiconductor talent, spanning specialized university education, hands on laboratory training, and direct linkages with industry partners as Pakistan works to establish a sustainable domestic semiconductor sector.
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