Pakistan, China join hands to launch major digital skills initiative for youth
Gwadar Pro
Islamabad: In a landmark move aimed at equipping Pakistan’s youth with cutting-edge digital skills, the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) on Friday afternoon signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with China’s ITMC, UNI International, and several leading Chinese vocational institutions.
The agreement marks a major step forward in Pakistan’s efforts to build a future-ready workforce and strengthen its digital economy.
The signing ceremony took place at the Prime Minister’s Office and was chaired by Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of PMYP. The initiative falls under the government’s broader vision of economic empowerment through technology and international collaboration.
According to officials, the strategic partnership will roll out short-term, employment-oriented training programs in collaboration with NAVTTC, various TEVTAs, and top Chinese technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. The programs will focus on 40 to 50 specialized digital trades including e-commerce, digital marketing, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, animation, tourism and hospitality, and creative entrepreneurship.
Over the next two years, the initiative will train 1,000 master trainers across Pakistan using Chinese curriculum standards. PMYP will select 100 educational institutions—comprising both universities and vocational centers—and nominate 10 master trainers from each. The rollout includes a goal of training 200 master trainers in 2025 and 800 in 2026.
The training will follow a hybrid model-combining online and offline instruction—supported by advanced software tools, hands-on platforms, and international certification provided by ITMC and Chinese TVET colleges. Upon completion, trainees will receive internationally recognized e-certificates, ensuring global portability of their skills.
In its five-year roadmap, the program aims to train up to 100,000 Pakistani youth, with each institute training 100 students annually. To support this scale, 30 to 50 Centers of Excellence will be established across the country to serve as regional training hubs. These centers will be developed in collaboration with NAVTTC, TEVTAs, and Chinese institutions.
Highlighting the growing significance of the freelance economy, the initiative will also provide 100,000 free freelancer accounts to trained individuals, offering them a direct pathway to global digital employment.
Specialized training modules under the program will include Amazon store operations, business data analysis, cross-border e-commerce live streaming, short video production, AI agent development, and AIGC (AI-generated content) applications.
A Joint Working Group will be formed between PMYP, ITMC, and UNI International to oversee implementation. The first batch of 200 master trainers will be onboarded soon, and a formal Training of Trainers (ToT) opening ceremony is scheduled to mark the launch of the initiative.
