The prime minister said that the government is committed to supporting the private sector in its ventures of introducing cutting edge technology and taking the country forward. "World is changing rapidly owing to progress in information technology, while the governments are very slow to change; therefore, the private sector should come forward in adopting cutting edge technology and the government is ready to facilitate them," he added.
PM Abassi claimed that the government has delivered in many fields including construction of motorways, seaports, airports as well as building new power plants; however the success in information technology can be rightly termed an important contribution over the past five years.
He further said that the DigiSkills programme would equip the youth to get online jobs and earn money in a non-traditional way. The Prime Minister said he has great faith in the youth of the country and expressed confidence that the women would lead in these areas in coming years. Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications Anusha Rehman said the DigiSkills programme is an important initiative of the ministry which would create online employment opportunities to enable youth to earn US $200 to $300 per month. This amount could be raised to $1,000 per month in case the information technology is adopted. She said with the help of this programme, youth from across the country will provide services across the globe.
The minister further said that Pakistan is at number 4 in ranking on global freelance market and claimed this programme would bring the country at the first position. With the help of this program, youth from across the country will be providing their services to the entire world, she added.
She claimed that Pakistan is emerging as an IT-leader in the world. She said that the government is committed to enlightening the future of young generations with the use of the latest technology. Ignite - previously the ICT R&D Fund - will be overseeing the program that has already floated the RFP for the private partners for the execution of this project.
DigiSkills programme is said to be the brainchild of Anusha Rehman, who has tasked CEO of Ignite Yousaf Hussain to execute the program in a better way. The minister said that compared to initial estimated expenditure of Rs 50,000 per student, it would cost Rs 800 per student after rationalizing the program. The minister said that other countries like UAE have also started to replicate this programme. The event was attended among others by Yusuf Hussain and Rector Virtual University Naveed Malik and representatives of different IT companies.
On this occasion, several memoranda of understanding were also signed while LMKT, a leading Pakistan-based technology services company, was awarded the contract to set up National Incubation Center (NIC) in Karachi. Shabana Khan, President LMKT, and Yusuf Hussain, CEO Ignite, signed the contract. The IT minister said that five incubation centers as per the commitment would be made operational by May 2018 in the country.
Ignite signed an MoU with Akhuwat Foundation, under which the latter would provide Rs 100,000 interest-free loans for purchase of laptops to get benefit from DigiSkills program. Telenor Pakistan and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) also signed separate memoranda of understanding with Virtual University of Pakistan under which they would provide broadband and internet services at reduced rates to those who get enrolled under the DigiSkills program.
Talking to Business Recorder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Telenor Pakistan Irfan Wahab said that Telenor may provide free of cost contents, material and literature to those who get enrolled in DigiSkills program. President and CEO PTCL Dr Daniel Ritz said PTCL always strives hard to contribute and bring Pakistan at par with rest of the world by launching innovative and enterprising initiatives. "Taking another step forward, PTCL has joined hands with Virtual University to train one million Pakistanis across the world through its broadband footprint and cloud infrastructure (IAAS) representing all walks of life," he added.