By Muhammad Saleem
Imagine a classroom buzzing with students learning digital marketing, coding, and freelancing skills instead of just memorizing textbooks.
Punjab is taking steps to make this vision a reality. The provincial government plans to open a new e-Rozgar centre in Lahore, aiming to equip young people with the skills needed to compete in a global digital economy.
Shifting Focus to In-Demand Digital Skills
A Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) official told Wealth Pakistan that the focus is shifting from traditional education to practical, in-demand digital skills.
“It’s an era of digital skills, and if we want to remain competitive internationally, we must train our youth to meet global demands,” he said.
Partnership Between PITB and Hunarmand Punjab
The e-Rozgar centre will be set up under the e-Rozgar 2.0 programme through a partnership between PITB and Hunarmand Punjab.
Hunarmand Punjab is a provincial initiative offering 50,000 scholarships nationwide, half of which will go to students in Punjab and the rest to students from other provinces.
Training Youth in Entrepreneurship and Advanced Skills
The centre aims to teach young people digital entrepreneurship, freelancing, and advanced technical skills to help them generate income and contribute to the national economy.
“Without developing these skills, we cannot align our youth with the international community,” the PITB official added.
Challenges Faced by Students and Rural Youth
Rida Hussain, a participant in a skills development programme, said the government’s efforts could shape a brighter future for young Pakistanis.
She noted, however, that challenges remain, including the lack of teachers and unreliable internet access. “We are instructed to speak positively about the teachers and management whenever inspectors visit,” she added.
Digital marketing expert Mohsin Ali emphasized the need to include rural youth, who often have limited access to modern training.
“To tap the potential of rural youth, we need courses in software development, digital marketing, machine learning, coding, artificial intelligence, and other in-demand skills,” he said.
Ali praised the new e-Rozgar centre as an important step but stressed that more efforts are needed.
He suggested expanding training programmes into rural areas and integrating digital skills into the education system at all levels.
“This will ensure students acquire relevant skills before leaving their schools and colleges,” he added.
Preparing Youth for Global Opportunities
With the rapid growth of the digital economy and the rising demand for AI and technology skills, Punjab’s new e-Rozgar centre could be a key tool in preparing the country’s youth for global opportunities—provided the government continues to invest in quality training and wider access.
Author Profile
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Muhammad Saleem is a Lahore-based journalist with a focus on environmental issues, urban development, and the challenges faced by local industries.
With years of experience reporting on the intersection of business, policy, and public health, Muhammad Saleem, brings in-depth analysis and firsthand insights into the struggles of small and medium enterprises as they navigate regulations and sustainability challenges.
