Govt allocates Rs. 338 million for ‘High Impact Skills Boot Camp’ to train IT professionals

The Federal government of Pakistan has approved the project “High Impact Skills Boot Camp” at a cost of Rs. 338.522 million, to train at least 10,000 Information Technology (IT) professionals in 12 to 15 emerging technologies. The purpose of initiating this project is to reduce the shortage of skilled human resource in these emerging technologies. The government has also allocated Rs. 100 million in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the next financial year 2019-20.

With the emergence of more than a dozen new technologies in the IT world like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, Bio Date, etc, Pakistan faces a major shortage of skilled manpower. According to an official document the country does not have skilled resources at middle-level management who can act as projects managers, team leaders, and project coordinators, etc.

Moreover, further details of the project reveal that most universities in Pakistan have been unable to timely update the syllabus and generate resources to manage the increased demand of certain critical new technologies like Cloud Computing, Data Sciences including Artificial Intelligence.

Keeping in view of the high demand of IT experts in these domains the government has planned to train 10,000 professionals in IT sector, so they can take charge and cover the gap the country is facing right now. The scope of the project offers huge direct and indirect benefits for Pakistan’s economy and the Boot Camp will also help to enhance the quality of work in the IT sector.

Previously, the President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi invited a delegation of renowned and successful entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley to present some solid recommendations for boosting government’s efforts to enhance knowledge and skills base in the country. Developing skills base of tech professionals will result in the export of high-value services required by demanding markets like the USA.

The project details also mention that three universities in Karachi will manage the pilot project of the government, in which the first batch of 200 students would be given the required training, while similar batches will be rolled out in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities.