ISLAMABAD, OCT 22 (APP/DNA): Minister for IT and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to developing the ‘Semiconductor Industry’ through global partnerships, urging students to pursue careers in this field to help Pakistan shine on the world stage.
In an exclusive interview on private news channel, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted the vital role of youth in shaping Pakistan’s digital future, adding, we need to empower the younger generation with advanced expertise in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology and Semiconductors.
She reaffirmed that under the Prime Minister’s strategic vision, financial support for this transformative initiative will remain uninterrupted, adding, a dedicated allocation of 4.5 billion rupees from the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) has been earmarked to enhance technical training, including the professional development of university faculty.
The flagship program, INSPIRE, is set to cultivate 7,200 skilled professionals over a five-year period in semiconductor design, verification and research, she added.
It will collaborate with nine public-sector universities across Pakistan’s northern, central and southern regions and establish six state-of-the-art integrated circuit (IC) laboratories to bolster local innovation and industry readiness, she
added.
Responding to a query, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja expressed confidence in the potential of Pakistani youth, highlighting that currently, the greatest value lies in nurturing young designers.
She emphasized that while the focus is on developing talented designers now, the country’s capabilities will expand significantly in the coming years.
She also mentioned that Pakistan will collaborate with friendly countries, assuring that such partnerships will help Pakistani students excel on the global stage and showcase their skills internationally.
In response to another question about internet speed and 5G rollout, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that the government is actively working on expanding and improving these services.
The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of 4G connectivity across the country, ensuring better and more reliable internet access for all users.
