The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) has partnered with Google to launch the “Grow with Google” program. The initiative aims to upskill the youth of the province by offering 5,000 scholarships for the most in-demand Google certifications. The program is being run by TechValley in Pakistan and will focus on enabling women to benefit from the opportunity, with a launch on International Women’s Day to celebrate the contribution of women in society.
The global digital skills shortage is a major concern for Google, with experts warning that millions of jobs are going unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates. By 2025, over 85 million jobs could go unfilled due to a lack of skilled workers, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. Pakistan has been affected by this trend, with graduates lacking professional skills in their respective fields. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan recently warned that the country is facing a digital skills gap, with a shortage of skilled workers in areas such as software development, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
The “Grow with Google” program can help to address this skills shortage, offering young people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the opportunity to acquire the skills needed to succeed in the global job market. The program is being launched in partnership with the Higher Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Social Welfare Department, the National Incubation Center Peshawar, and Khawateen Rozgar Services.
Dr. Sahibzada Ali Mahmud, the Managing Director of KPITB, emphasized the importance of upskilling the youth to meet the demands of the digital age. Muhammad Khalid, the Secretary of the Science Technology and IT Department, praised the initiative, saying that it would help to bridge the digital skills gap in the province. The “Grow with Google” program is just one of several initiatives being undertaken by the KPITB and Science Technology and IT Department of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to upskill the youth and bridge the digital skills gap in the province.
With the support of partners such as Google, the KPITB and Science Technology and IT Department are working to build a brighter future for the young people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ensure that they are equipped to succeed in the digital age. To apply for the scholarship, interested individuals can visit the “Grow with Google” website
