KARACHI: The Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Syed Aminul Haq, has announced a partnership agreement with Google, which will provide 45,000 scholarships to Pakistani students this year.
The number of scholarships is expected to increase to 450,000 next year, with a significant portion, at least 40 percent, dedicated to women, according to the state news agency.
Minister Aminul Haq made the announcement while addressing the Startups for Industries and IT Exports conference at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) on Friday. He highlighted that Google had previously granted 15,000 scholarships last year, and the decision to increase the number was made after consultations.
In addition to the scholarships, the Federal IT Minister revealed that a gaming and animation facility had been constructed at NED University with an investment of $1.6 million. The purpose of this infrastructure is to foster the growth and development of the gaming and animation industry in Pakistan.
The event saw the participation of various dignitaries, including Zubair Chhaya, Vice Patron of KATI, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Senior Vice President Nighat Awan, and Chairperson of the Standing Committee Maheen Salman, along with experts from universities, National Incubation Centers, students, teachers, and startups.
Opportunities for Pakistani Students in IT Sector
Minister Aminul Haq further outlined the IT Ministry’s vision for 2050, noting the increase in investment in Pakistan from $75 million in 2020 to $373 million in 2021. He also highlighted the Ministry’s efforts in eliminating regulatory duty on mobile devices since March 30. The Minister emphasized the successful implementation of a mobile phone manufacturing policy, which enabled the establishment of a mobile phone manufacturing industry within a few months.
The Minister stated that the number of incubation centers in the country had increased from five to eight over the past three years. He expressed the Ministry’s focus on promoting startups, gaming, and animation in Pakistan.
Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan acknowledged the significant efforts of entrepreneurs and startups, highlighting the importance of research and development in the IT industry. He emphasized that startups no longer require substantial investments and commended their valuable contributions.
Zubair Chhaya, Deputy Patron of KATI, welcomed the growth in Pakistan’s IT exports under Minister Aminul Haq’s leadership, which increased from $1 billion to $2.6 billion by the end of the previous fiscal year. He compared Pakistan’s IT exports favorably to the neighboring country’s exports of $149 billion.
Mahin Salman emphasized the importance of aligning educational curricula with industry needs and providing professional training to bridge the gap between degrees and job opportunities. She praised the successful transformation of projects into fully launched startups within a year.
Nighat Awan, Senior Vice President of KATI, called for the abolition of duties on machinery and IT sector products to facilitate further expansion of the industry in Pakistan.
