Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the semiconductor project being launched is of great importance, youth should be taken further ahead, only nations that master semiconductors and AI will rule the world, this is the future.
Addressing the launch ceremony of the national semiconductor program ‘Inspire Initiative’ in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said that the launch of the national semiconductor program is a historic step, the semiconductor program is the most important need of the hour, a narrative war related to semiconductors is going on all over the world, Allah Almighty has blessed Pakistan with resources in the field of semiconductors, it is our responsibility to take full advantage of the resources and inform the nation.
He said that Rs 4.5 billion has been allocated for the project from the Public Sector Development Program, which is just a drop in the bucket. The government will provide more resources for the semiconductor program. Semiconductor is the future of Pakistan and the project of the young generation. The government has launched several projects under the Digital Pakistan vision.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the Pakistan Digital Authority has been formed, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is being completely digitized. Just now, the World Bank in Washington highlighted the work of the FBR, and world leaders praised this process.
He said that last year, during Ramadan, Rs 16 billion was distributed through a digital wallet to provide financial assistance to the poor and deserving people, and it will be increased further next year. This was the first such trial in the history of Pakistan. This is a vision that our government is jointly advancing.
The Prime Minister said that the semiconductor project being launched is of utmost importance, which should have been done long ago. Youth are our capital. They have to be trained in IT and semiconductor sectors and taken forward. I was told a figure of 7,000 now, but we have to take it further.
Shahbaz Sharif praised the program and said that important government projects include FBR digitization, cashless economy, digital wallets. Youth are the most valuable asset of the country. Training youth in sectors like IT, AI and now semiconductor is indispensable. Only nations that master semiconductors and AI will rule the world.
He said that in this regard, I thank all the members of the team including Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, who have worked day and night to achieve this most important task.
A day to be written in the history of Pakistan
Earlier, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima, while addressing the ceremony, said that the occasion we are in today in Pakistan is a day to be written in the history of Pakistan. Today, for the first time, the National Semiconductor Program is being launched.
She said that thanks to the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan for Digital Pakistan and his support behind it, it was possible to see this day, which includes the hard work of many people. This is the cornerstone of this revolution that the government is going to bring about through technology. Our priority is to empower the youth by training them.
The Federal Minister said that the semiconductor program is not just technology. As it was said, it is the basis of Pakistan’s self-reliance. We have to keep doing it, although it is said that this is a very long journey that will not be possible, there are no trainers.
She said that Field Marshal Asim Munir and the SIFC teams also played their role in making this program possible. We will make this impossible process possible under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Shaza Fatima said that the global industry currently needs 1 million people by 2030, and there is a $1.3 trillion semiconductor market.
It should be noted that according to the Prime Minister’s vision, Pakistan is being highlighted as an emerging IT economy in the region. The launch of the Digital Pakistan program will create a favorable environment for the IT industry in Pakistan. The IT program will prove to be a milestone in adapting the youth to modern requirements.
The government is determined to provide a strong foundation to the national economy through the promotion of IT. The program will create facilities in the fields of freelancing, e-commerce and software development and create vast employment opportunities for the youth.
On the instructions of the Prime Minister, a comprehensive policy framework has been prepared for the promotion of the IT industry. The launch of the program is an important step towards achieving the goals of the Digital Pakistan Vision. Federal ministers, IT experts and startup representatives attended the ceremony.
