By Muhammad Saleem
LAHORE, Oct 19 (Wealth Pakistan) – The Punjab government has intensified its digital-skills drive, announcing the establishment of a new E-Rozgaar Center in Lahore to equip youth with freelancing and entrepreneurship expertise.
PITB leads Punjab’s digital-empowerment plan
An official of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) told Wealth Pakistan that the initiative follows the provincial government’s vision to prepare youth for the global digital economy.
“The days of purely theoretical education are gone. It is now the era of digital skills — and our youth must meet the expectations of international clients,” the official said.
Recently, PITB and Hunarmand Punjab signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on digital-training programmes. Under the Hunarmand Punjab initiative, 50,000 scholarships will be offered across Pakistan, with 25,000 reserved for Punjab.
E-Rozgaar 2.0 expands access to digital learning
The upcoming E-Rozgaar Center will operate under the E-Rozgaar 2.0 programme, widening the province’s network of digital-training hubs. According to PITB, the new facility will offer courses in digital marketing, freelancing, software development, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and coding.
“Digitally skilled people will help generate jobs, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen the national economy,” the official added.
He said the government has developed a modern curriculum aligned with global freelancing trends. “Without developing digital-entrepreneurship skills among our youngsters, we cannot connect them with the international community,” he remarked.
Students welcome initiative but note ground challenges
Rida Hussain, a participant in a current programme, appreciated the vision but pointed out on-ground problems.
“The government’s effort is commendable, but there are issues such as teacher shortages and poor internet connectivity,” she said, urging Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to hold surprise inspections to ensure quality.
She added that students are sometimes asked to give positive feedback to inspection teams even when facilities fall short. “We value the Chief Minister’s vision for youth development, but the indifferent attitude of some programme managers is discouraging,” she noted.
Experts urge inclusion of rural youth
Digital-marketing expert Mohsin Ali said that while the new centre is a positive step, more efforts are needed to reach rural youth.
“Pakistan’s rural areas hold immense potential. The government should extend digital training to remote regions and introduce AI and coding courses in schools and colleges,” he suggested.
He emphasized that integrating digital skills into formal education would help students adapt early to the changing job market. “The future belongs to digital entrepreneurship — and this initiative can bridge Pakistan’s digital divide,” he added.
Driving Punjab toward a digital future
The E-Rozgaar 2.0 programme represents a major leap in Punjab’s journey toward a digitally empowered economy. With PITB and Hunarmand Punjab working together, the government aims to make digital literacy and freelancing mainstream across the province.