ISLAMABAD
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday launched INSPIRE as Pakistan\u2019s National Semiconductor Initiative, which he believed was a milestone in Pakistan\u2019s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy and also marked its entry into over $600 billion global semiconductor ecosystem.
\nThe prime minister, at a ceremony, kicked off the \u201cInitiative to Nurture Semiconductor Professionals for Industry, Research & Education\u201d (INSPIRE) to mark Pakistan\u2019s transformative step toward technological self-reliance and global competitiveness.
\nThe initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and executed by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), marks Pakistan\u2019s formal entry into the global semiconductor ecosystem \u2013 a sector valued at over $600 billion globally and projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.
\nIn this address, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the launch of INSPIRE was a milestone in Pakistan\u2019s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy, where innovation, research, and human capital drive sustainable growth. \u201cOur vision is to prepare Pakistan\u2019s youth for the industries of tomorrow\u2026 Through this initiative, we are building the foundations of a new economic frontier \u2013 one where Pakistan contributes talent, technology, and innovation to the world,\u201d he remarked.
\nHe said Allah Almighty had bestowed Pakistan with abundance of natural resources and benefiting from these resources was the core responsibility of the government.
\nAssuring the government\u2019s full support for this programme, the prime minister directed to work on it at a fast pace to achieve the desired targets.
\n\u201cThe planning ministry under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) had allocated Rs 4.5 billion for this programme which is just a drop in the ocean,\u201d he said assuring that funding was not an issue for this programme.
\nThe prime minister said the government had also established Pakistan Digital Authority. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was being completely digitized. Similarly, he said the government was also working on cashless economy in the country.
\nCommending the IT ministry and PSEB for their bold step in developing a skilled workforce aligned with global industry demands, the prime minister also acknowledged the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for enabling strong public\u2013private collaboration and facilitating investments that underpin national technology initiatives like INSPIRE.
\nHe reaffirmed the government\u2019s resolve to strengthen Pakistan\u2019s digital and industrial capabilities through education, inclusion, and global partnerships.
\nIn her remarks, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja reaffirmed the government\u2019s commitment to developing a digitally empowered Pakistan.
\n\u201cINSPIRE reflects the prime minister\u2019s vision for a technology-driven, inclusive economy \u2013 one that equips youth and women with the skills required to lead in global innovation. It will empower our students, researchers, and professionals to transition from learning to leading roles in the global semiconductor industry,\u201d she commented.
\nShe highlighted that under the prime minister\u2019s leadership, her ministry was actively fostering global partnerships and investment collaborations to strengthen cooperation in areas such as semiconductor development, research and design, broadband infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
\nChairman of the National Semiconductor Task Force Dr. Naveed Sherwani briefed the audience on the strategic roadmap and underlined Pakistan\u2019s opportunity to build a world-class semiconductor ecosystem.
\n\u201cMy vision for Pakistan\u2019s semiconductor future has always been to move beyond training talent \u2013 it is to build an interconnected ecosystem that unites academia, research, and industry. INSPIRE represents the first step toward that long-term national goal.\u201d
\nCEO of PSEB Abu Bakar described INSPIRE as a cornerstone project in building Pakistan\u2019s indigenous technological capacity.
\n\u201cUnder the guidance of IT ministry, PSEB is proud to execute this program, which will train thousands of professionals and link academia, research, and industry to develop a sustainable national semiconductor ecosystem,\u201d he stated.
\nINSPIRE aims to train 7,200 professionals over five years in semiconductor design, verification, and research \u2013 engaging nine public-sector universities across Pakistan\u2019s northern, central, and southern regions, and establishing six Integrated Circuit (IC) labs.
\nAs the first phase of Pakistan\u2019s broader National Semiconductor Development Roadmap, INSPIRE will lay the foundation for future Outsourced Assembly & Testing (OSAT) and fabrication capabilities, enabling Pakistan to take part in the global semiconductor supply chain.
\nWith the launch of INSPIRE, Pakistan has entered a new chapter of digital transformation \u2013 one defined by innovation, opportunity, and resilience.
\nThe initiative embodies a national vision to harness youth potential, strengthen international partnerships, and position Pakistan as a credible contributor to the trillion-dollar global semiconductor industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday launched INSPIRE as Pakistan\u2019s National Semiconductor Initiative, which he believed was a milestone in Pakistan\u2019s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy and also marked its entry into over $600 billion global semiconductor ecosystem. The prime minister, at a ceremony, kicked off the \u201cInitiative to Nurture Semiconductor Professionals for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":509981,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-509960","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n