ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun implementing a Rs4.5 billion national programme to train thousands of engineers in semiconductor design and related technologies, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Thursday, as the government seeks to position the country in the global semiconductor industry.
Speaking at an event in Islamabad, the minister said the programme aims to train 7,200 engineers in semiconductor design and chip development over the coming years.
Around 300 students are already receiving training at universities across the country, she said, adding that more participants will join the programme in the coming months.
“The objective is to enhance the employability of our youth by equipping them with in-demand technical skills,” Khawaja said.
She added that each training programme is independently evaluated to measure its effectiveness and assess employment outcomes.
“A third-party evaluation is conducted after each training programme to assess its impact and measure employment outcomes,” she said.
The minister said the initiative was designed to prepare young Pakistanis for careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology sectors and improve their employment prospects both domestically and internationally.
INSPIRE initiative
The programme forms part of the government’s broader INSPIRE (Initiative to Nurture Semiconductor Professionals for Industry, Research and Education), launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in October last year.
At the launch, the prime minister described INSPIRE as “a milestone in Pakistan’s transition to a knowledge-based digital economy” and said it marked the country’s entry into the global semiconductor ecosystem, which he valued at around $600 billion.
“Our vision is to prepare Pakistan’s youth for the industries of tomorrow,” PM Sharif said at the launch.
“Through this initiative, we are building the foundations of a new economic frontier — one where Pakistan contributes talent, technology and innovation to the world.”
The prime minister directed relevant authorities to implement the programme swiftly and assured stakeholders that funding would remain available.
“The Planning Ministry, under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), has allocated Rs4.5 billion for this programme, which is just a drop in the ocean,” he said at the time.
“Funding is no issue for this programme.”
Building semiconductor capacity
Under INSPIRE, Pakistan plans to train 7,200 professionals over five years in semiconductor design, verification and research.
The initiative will involve nine public-sector universities across northern, central and southern Pakistan and establish six integrated circuit (IC) laboratories.
According to the government, the programme represents the first phase of Pakistan’s National Semiconductor Development Roadmap.
The roadmap aims to lay the foundation for future outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) and fabrication capabilities, enabling Pakistan to participate in the global semiconductor supply chain.
The initiative is part of a wider strategy to strengthen international partnerships, develop skilled human capital and position Pakistan as a competitive contributor to the global semiconductor industry.
