The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) held a ceremony on several digital skills and economy initiatives, which was attended by several key, high-profile figures from KP, including the Minister for Finance and Health, Taimur Jhagra; the Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education, Shahram Khan Tarakai; and the chief guest, Minister for Food, Science and Technology, and Information Technology, Sports and Youth Affairs, Atif Khan.
The event focused on the investment that KP has made in providing better chances for its inhabitants to improve their digital skills in order to stay competitive and create growth for the province in the digital age.
Among the many initiatives highlighted in the programme, KPITB launched an orientation session for the KP Digital Internship Program, as well as other vital, citizen-focused services like the KP Super App and Health Information Management System (HMIS) – innovative technologies that will greatly improve the accessibility and efficiency of public services in the region.
The event also included a signing ceremony with Code for Pakistan, as well as other agreements for the construction of Software Technology Parks with Malakand University and Kohat University of Science and Technology.
These projects seek to foster digital literacy and the development of a digital economy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hence creating more and better work prospects for KP residents.
The ceremony also highlighted the accomplishments of graduating startups, interns, and students, offering attendees with real-life examples of what can be accomplished when given the opportunity to network with industry experts and potential investors.
Several successful firms received seed funding from KPITB’s incubation facility in Durshal; in total, about Rs. 12 million was distributed after startups competed in a selection process.
In addition, in collaboration with Code for Pakistan, KPITB launched the KP Women Civic Digital Internship Program, a 6-month internship program designed to upskill women graduates with technology skills, provide practical hands-on work experience, and prepare them to explore careers in Software Development.
The programme is the first of its kind, giving women the opportunity to work on citizen-facing digital services that will promote citizen participation, streamline government operations, and foster innovation in public service delivery.
Regarding the Software Technology Parks in Malakand and Kohat, Dr. Ali said, “Our collaboration with these institutions will promote academia and industry linkages and also bridge gaps in technology and infrastructure access in secondary and tertiary cities. This will help boost IT exports.’’
He went on to say that the collaboration intends to promote collaboration, digitization, and innovation in both traditional socioeconomic sectors and emerging technology.
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