Pakistan and the United States have agreed to deepen cooperation in digital transformation, focusing on expanding collaboration in digital literacy, skills development, youth capacity building, and technology-driven economic growth.
A delegation from the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) met with Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja to explore new opportunities for bilateral digital partnership, according to an official press release.
The minister briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s large-scale digital skills initiatives being implemented through the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). These initiatives include advanced training programmes in 5G technologies, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, data analytics, full-stack development, and global certification pathways in web engineering, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
She also highlighted the nationwide digital upskilling efforts of Ignite, including the DigiSkills programme, which has trained more than 4.87 million learners in freelancing, digital marketing, e-commerce, and emerging technologies such as AI. These efforts are helping Pakistani youth access international work opportunities on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.
Details were also shared about Ignite’s Code4AI initiative, which aims to train over 7,500 young people in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing, creating potential talent pipelines for U.S. companies to hire skilled remote professionals from Pakistan.
The minister further discussed Ignite’s national cybersecurity hackathons and proposed joint U.S.-Pakistan cross-border competitions, mentorship initiatives, and training exchanges to strengthen technical collaboration.
She also emphasised the role of the newly established Center of Excellence for Gaming and Animation (CEGA) in developing skills in animation, gaming, AR/VR, and digital content creation, with strong potential for institutional partnerships between Pakistan and the United States.
In addition, Ignite’s National Incubation Centers were highlighted for supporting more than 2,100 startups, generating over Rs33 billion in revenue, securing Rs32 billion in investment, and creating more than 185,000 jobs across Pakistan.
The U.S. delegation shared information about American educational and exchange programmes, including Fulbright, IVLP, PFP, YES, TechWomen, TechGirls, and English Access & Virtual Exchanges, aimed at strengthening leadership, innovation, and academic ties.
Both sides agreed to expand university-to-university cooperation, including opportunities for U.S. professors to deliver advanced technology training in Pakistan, supporting long-term academic partnerships and digital development.
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