Ignite, the training and capacity development wing of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, has announced a plan to upskill 2,000 IT graduates through its new “Code4AI-North Region Program.” The initiative aims to provide short-term, intensive, hands-on training in highly demanded coding languages to help participants develop practical and job-ready skills.
The Code4AI-North Region Program is designed to expand Pakistan’s pool of skilled programmers by focusing on leading programming languages that support current and future industry needs. For this purpose, Ignite has identified three in-demand technologies: Python, JavaScript Fullstack, and Java with Angular or React. These languages are considered well-suited to meet market demand, especially in areas related to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and blockchain.
Training will be conducted in major northern cities, and selected companies will execute the program under the requirements outlined in the RFP. Ignite has mandated that the intensive, hands-on approach must equip young Pakistanis with a clear career path in programming. The organization aims to hire qualified local firms, preferably in consortium with reputable local or international partners, to deliver the training.
The program is open to graduates or final-year students enrolled in undergraduate programs in computer science, software engineering, information technology, ICT engineering, technology management, mathematics, statistics, or other relevant fields. Ignite will select training companies to provide the courses in Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, and Rawalpindi.
Pakistan’s population has crossed 240 million, with nearly two-thirds under the age of 29. Around 90 million people in the country have active internet access. Each year, Pakistan produces more than 40,000 IT professionals from over 230 universities and degree-awarding institutions. However, out of approximately 30,000 graduates entering the job market annually, only an estimated 10 percent secure employment in the IT sector. The industry contributes about seven percent to Pakistan’s GDP and supports hundreds of thousands of professionals across banking, telecommunications, healthcare, and education.
According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, IT exports increased by 47.4 percent in fiscal year 2020–21, reaching $2.1 billion for the first time in the country’s history, compared to $1.44 billion in 2019–20. In fiscal year 2022, Pakistan’s IT sector posted record remittances of $2.616 billion. The government has set a target of $5 billion for fiscal year 2023 and plans further expansion of the industry in the coming years.
Training only 2000 out of 40,000 IT graduates is peanuts. Ignite should be thinking on a large scale of training at least 50% of them i.e. 20,000 IT graduates every year in new languages and emerging technologies. Otherwise, the impact of training only 2000 on IT exports will be minimal, not more than $50 million/year which is not much considering an annual target of $5 billion for IT exports. The above news says “The government has set a target of $5 billion for fiscal year 2023”? This looks like a copy paste. Target is for 2025-26, not 2023 which is gone already!