The Sindh government has taken a major step to boost digital skills and employment opportunities for youth by allocating Rs900 million to train 35,000 students in modern Information Technology (IT) competencies. The decision came during a meeting of the Sindh Cabinet’s Sub-Committee on Finance in Karachi on January 26, 2026, chaired by the local government minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.
Under the People’s Information Technology Programme, funds will support students from three major universities — Institute of Business Administration (IBA), NED University of Engineering & Technology, and Mehran University of Engineering & Technology — to gain in-demand digital skills that can improve their employability.
The programme is part of a wider push in Pakistan to prepare young professionals for the digital economy. In recent years, both federal and provincial governments have expanded initiatives to train youth in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and digital marketing.
Such efforts align with broader national goals like the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme — launched to empower young Pakistanis with skills, jobs, and business opportunities — and similar public–private training partnerships that help local talent connect with global tech markets.
“No delay or negligence in public welfare projects would be tolerated,” Syed Nasir Hussain Shah told reporters at the conclusion of the meeting, underscoring his government’s commitment to education and youth development.
The financial boost comes as Pakistan faces high youth unemployment. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, a large share of university graduates struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications. Experts say modern IT skills can help bridge that gap and make young professionals competitive both locally and globally.
The Sindh initiative is also complementary to existing programmes at the federal level. Earlier, the federal government announced plans to provide IT certifications to 500,000 young people and expand training opportunities nationwide.
The planned training under the Rs900m allocation will not only help students learn technical skills but may also include support for entrepreneurship and freelancing — areas where a growing number of young Pakistanis already generate income online. Online platforms like DigiSkills.pk have shown that structured digital training can significantly enhance job prospects and income-generating opportunities.
By equipping students with practical and modern IT skills, the Sindh government hopes to create a more digitally capable workforce, ready to meet the demands of a fast-changing economy and contribute to Pakistan’s long-term growth.
