Govt to Take Steps for Uplift of Youth: Minister For IT Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui

Govt to Take Steps for Uplift of Youth: Minister For IT Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui 

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication is committed for the development and uplift of country’s youth as 389,071 students have benefitted from various projects, workshops, training and startups under the Ministry of IT during the period from August 2018 to September 2019.

He said that the youth of Pakistan have great talent and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication is fully focusing on the development of youth. He said that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication is endeavouring to equip youth with IT and digital skills to increase their employability potential. He said that adoption of technology is vital for the uplift and prosperous future of our youth.

Youth are our asset and every possible step will be taken for their uplift, Federal Minister for IT said in a statement.  According to details, 389,071 youth got benefit from the projects, workshops, startups and trainings launched by the attached departments of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication during the last year of the present government.

The number of students trained in Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal project of Universal Service Fund (USF) is 10,000 during this period. Under another program of USF, ICT facilities were provided in Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) schools and colleges, and about 100,000 students have been imparted training since August 2018.

Under Digiskills.pk program of Ignite, 215,527 students were enrolled and given online training during last one year.  Under Final Year Project Fund (2018 and 2019) of Ignite, since August 2018 over 3700 students of different educational institutions have been provided with a fund to complete their projects.

About 1,023 startup members contributed for the development of startup ecosystem with the support of Ministry of IT through Ignite and 10,481 jobs were created through National Incubation Centers (NICs) at Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta from the period from August 2018 to September this year. During the period from August 2018 to September 2019, 47,804 youth attended workshops/training at NICs.

Under Virtual University projects, 63 students were involved in 11 different projects from 2018 to up till now.

About 410 students benefitted from multiple conferences/seminars and workshops organized by Virtual University, and 54 students from different institutions were provided trainings, internships and research facilities at VU from August last year to September this year.

Nine students of Virtual University were awarded Seed Money by Student Startup Business Center.