The End of Jobless IT Graduates? HEC & MoITT Launches New Skills Initiative
Unemployed Computer Graduates in Pakistan? Not Anymore HEC & MoITT Push for Industry-Ready Skills
At the recent ‘Zero-Day Employability of Computing Graduates’ conference, Pakistan took a decisive step toward solving a persistent challenge: the growing number of unemployed IT graduates. Organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication (MoIT&T) and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), the event brought together top policymakers, academics, and industry experts to redesign the future of computing education in the country.
Redefining Education to Empower Pakistan’s IT Graduates
Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of IT & Telecommunication, called for urgent reforms to align academia with market realities. With an ambitious $15 billion IT export target by 2029, she emphasized performance-based accountability for institutions and hands-on, industry-linked education that directly boosts graduate employability. Skills Over Syllabus: A New Path Forward for IT Graduates in Pakistan HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed revealed the development of a new computing curriculum that is 80% hands-on, aiming to close the skill gap and elevate Pakistan's global tech reputation. He pointed to the success of Pakistani youth in global tech competitions as proof of the country’s potential. Building a Smarter Roadmap MoIT&T Secretary Mr. Zarrar Hasham Khan presented a detailed National IT Roadmap targeting systemic barriers like weak academia-industry linkages, inconsistent curricula, and lack of practical training. Key proposals include: - A centralized national competency test - Industry-integrated certification programs - Mandatory final-year projects aligned with real-world tech needs What Comes Next? The conference concluded with action-oriented recommendations, including curriculum standardization, final-year project reform, and nationwide testing models all aimed at transforming fresh computing graduates into job-ready professionals from day one. In a fast-evolving digital economy, this initiative could be the turning point Pakistan’s IT talent pool has long awaited. FAQ 1). What is the Zero-Day Employability Conference about? It’s a national event aimed at addressing the skill gaps that prevent IT graduates in Pakistan from securing employment immediately after graduation. 2). What changes are being made to IT education in Pakistan? HEC is introducing a new computing curriculum that is 80% hands-on and skills-based, while MoITT is pushing for centralized testing and industry-aligned final year projects. 3). How will these changes improve graduate employability? By aligning education with industry needs, introducing standardized competency testing, and linking final year projects with real-world applications, graduates will be better prepared for jobs on day one. Read the full article