Rs1.4b earmarked for Sindh PITP Phase-II

Express Tribune

15 hours ago

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Tech experts have expressed mixed views about Sindh's new IT initiative, agreeing that "something is better than nothing" while urging stronger implementation and industry involvement.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presented the annual provincial budget for 2025-26 in the Sindh Assembly on Friday and announced Phase-II of the People's Information Technology Programme (PITP).
"Building on this momentum, I am excited to launch PITP Phase-II with an expanded vision. With a budget of Rs1.4 billion, this phase aims to skill 35,000 students in 12 high-demand IT domains — from data science and AI to cybersecurity and full-stack development," the CM said during his budget speech.
Tech analyst Muhammad Yasir said the government should allocate a larger budget to promote IT education and digitise governance. He said PITP's scope must be expanded to underserved cities. The provincial government should not only increase IT seats in universities but also fund specialised IT universities in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.
He also stressed the need to digitise various public departments, including vehicle and property registration systems.
Mehboob Shar, CEO of iCreativez Technologies and leading tech expert, said it bode well that the government was working on IT training, but added that while the current budget may not be enough for high-quality technical education, "Something is better than nothing," he said, adding that "The real challenge is ensuring transparency and strict monitoring by universities so the allocated funds utilised solely for their intended purpose," he said.
Shar pointed out that training is often conducted by academic instructors instead of industry experts. This gap needs to be closed to improve job readiness. "If industry professionals conduct hands-on training, 55-70% of graduates can realistically secure jobs," he noted.
He said if the CM refers to Rs60,000 as a probation salary, it's fair, but added that practical, industry-aligned training is essential to help graduates eventually earn over Rs100,000 per month.
"We must significantly scale up the IT budget and involve private-sector professionals. I appreciate the CM's appointment of a capable and visionary secretary, whose leadership is starting to yield progress. This gives hope for long-term IT development," he said.
Shar added that the IT sector is the only industry that can bring billions in foreign remittances "without shipping goods, just by exporting the brilliance of our youth."
Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director at the National Incubation Centre (NIC) Karachi, called the move encouraging.
"The fact that they are investing in 12 high-demand IT domains shows that they are serious about building a digital future for the province. Now, of course, when you look at global training costs in areas like AI or cybersecurity, you will see that budgets can vary widely depending on how deep and hands-on the programmes are.
But I believe it's not just about the amount — it's about how the budget is utilised. If the training includes real projects, mentors from the tech industry, internships, and connections with startups or companies, this funding can go a long way.
Programmes like DigiSkills, we have seen how practical, focused training can turn fresh graduates into professionals or even founders of startups."
Analysing the Sindh CM's budget speech, he called it a positive step, noting Pakistan's youth bulge is only an asset if properly invested in. He welcomed the IT training focus but urged more support for startups, women in tech, and rural students.
He stressed the need for long-term infrastructure like tech hubs, university innovation labs, and better internet. "Sindh has immense talent. With mentorship, access, and strong public-private partnerships, it can lead Pakistan's digital and startup economy," he said.