Shaping the Future: Pakistan Empowers Youth with AI and Digital Skills
ISLAMABAD:
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has emphasized that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not take away jobs but reshape opportunities, urging Pakistan’s youth to lead the way in adopting modern technologies.
Speaking at Cadet College Hasan Abdal, the minister highlighted that the real question for the future is not whether AI will replace work, but whether young people are ready to adapt, innovate, and lead with these tools.
To support this vision, the Ministry of IT signed an MoU with the college, opening doors for top students to secure internships, professional training, and certifications in key fields such as AI, cybersecurity, coding, and content technology. A joint steering committee will also be formed to ensure effective implementation.
Looking ahead, the ministry aims to digitally connect all schools and district units in Islamabad with high-speed fibre internet within six months, enabling e-classrooms and modern digital learning. Teachers will also be trained in AI, data literacy, and modern digital tools, ensuring that the next generation of Pakistanis is fully equipped for the global digital economy.
Minister Shaza Fatima stressed that skills must be measured by their future relevance, not just by numbers, and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s youth — over 60% of the country’s population — are the true drivers of digital transformation.
Last year, 100,000 students were trained under the government’s Digital Skills Programme, and this year, the target has been expanded to one million young Pakistanis, marking a major step toward building a future-ready workforce.
