The Pakistan Software Export Board has taken a formal step forward in the implementation of the National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Program, known as NSHRDP INSPIRE, by signing a training contract that sets the stage for Pakistan’s first structured Upskilling Training Program in Digital Design and Verification. The contract has been signed between the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology and NED University of Engineering and Technology, with the programme designed to equip participants with specialised skills in semiconductor technologies, particularly in digital design and verification. The four-month training programme will be led by GIKI, with NED University contributing to the broader objective of developing a skilled and industry-ready workforce, with training activities scheduled to begin in May 2026 following preparatory work in April.
NSHRDP INSPIRE is Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s flagship initiative, backed by a total approved budget of PKR 4.844 billion, aimed at developing a highly skilled workforce in the semiconductor industry and positioning Pakistan as a competitive hub in the global marketplace, with the Pakistan Software Export Board spearheading efforts to build a robust talent pipeline aligned with international industry demands. The programme is rooted in a recognition that Pakistan’s technology sector, while growing in software services, has yet to meaningfully participate in the global semiconductor supply chain, a sector currently valued at over 600 billion United States dollars globally and projected to exceed one trillion dollars by 2030. Bridging that gap requires not just infrastructure but a generation of engineers trained to international standards in chip design, integrated circuits, and system-on-chip development.
The award ceremony was attended by senior leadership including the Chairman of the INSPIRE Project Steering Committee, the Vice-Chancellor of NED University, the Rector of GIKI, and key stakeholders from academia and industry. Speaking at the event, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to empowering youth and enabling their participation in high-tech global industries, emphasising that semiconductor technology plays a vital role in innovation and economic growth and that the programme could help Pakistan enter the global semiconductor value chain. Looking beyond the current training contract, PSEB has also announced plans to install advanced software and hardware infrastructure under NSHRDP Phase One, establishing semiconductor training labs in multiple universities and research institutions equipped with world-class Electronic Design Automation tools, with the programme aiming to train more than 7,200 engineers in chip design and verification techniques that meet international standards. A pre-bid meeting for vendors involved in that procurement process is scheduled for April 16, 2026, with infrastructure installation expected to begin shortly thereafter.
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