LAHORE: The Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has launched two new training programmes — Advance Tech and Global Rozgar — under the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Hunarmand Naujawan Initiative, aimed at equipping youth with market-driven digital and business process outsourcing (BPO) skills linked directly to employment opportunities.
Classes have formally started across Punjab as part of the provincial government’s broader strategy to improve youth employability and align technical education with industry demand.
The programmes seek to address the growing gap between academic qualifications and labour market requirements, particularly in Pakistan’s expanding digital economy.
According to PSDF officials, Pakistan produces more than 75,000 IT graduates annually, but only a small proportion enters the formal technology workforce due to outdated curricula and limited industry exposure.
The Advance Tech programme aims to bridge that gap through specialised three-month courses in emerging technology fields, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, DevOps, Mobile App Development, Internet of Things (IoT), Game Development and AI-led Digital Marketing.
The programme targets youth aged 18 to 40 and plans to train 2,500 participants in the current phase, with an overall target of 7,500 trainees over the next two and a half years.
Officials said the initiative has been developed in collaboration with the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to ensure that training reflects industry requirements and enhances access to both local employment and international freelance opportunities.
Alongside technology-focused training, PSDF has also introduced the Global Rozgar programme to prepare youth for Pakistan’s rapidly growing BPO industry.
Pakistan is increasingly emerging as a competitive destination for IT and BPO services due to its young English-speaking workforce and relatively lower operating costs.
Industry estimates suggest the country’s BPO sector recorded nearly 25 percent growth during fiscal year 2025.
Under the programme, one-month courses will be offered to participants aged 16 to 35 in areas, including Contact Centre Operations, Customer Care, Medical Billing, Sales Development, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and AI-enabled call and chat handling.
The initiative initially aims to train 2,500 individuals, while the broader five-year target stands at 25,000 beneficiaries.
