The government has accelerated efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s semiconductor workforce through a Semiconductor Upskilling programme under the National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Programme INSPIRE. Backed by an approved budget of PKR 4.844 billion, the initiative seeks to develop industry-ready talent aligned with international standards and to position Pakistan within the global semiconductor value chain.
Implementation of the programme is being led by the Pakistan Software Export Board, and a formal agreement for the Up-Skilling Training Programme was signed between the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology and NED University of Engineering and Technology. The collaboration focuses on equipping participants with specialized expertise in semiconductor technologies, particularly in digital design and verification.
The four-month training will be delivered with GIKI leading instruction while NED contributes to curriculum delivery and industry alignment. Programme initiation activities are scheduled for April, with structured training set to commence in May 2026. The Semiconductor Upskilling effort is designed to create a steady pipeline of skilled engineers ready to meet local and international industry requirements.
The award ceremony brought together senior leadership, including the Chairman of the INSPIRE Project Steering Committee, the Vice Chancellor of NED University and the Rector of GIKI, alongside key stakeholders from academia and industry. Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja noted that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to empowering youth and enabling their participation in high-tech global industries, stressing that semiconductor technologies are central to modern innovation and economic growth.
The Ministry of IT and Telecom reiterated its commitment to effective implementation of the Government’s digital economy agenda and to the Prime Minister’s vision of a Digital Nation Pakistan, expressing confidence that this academia-government partnership will deliver tangible benefits for the country’s digital future.
