ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week said Chinese multinational technology company Huawei’s program to train 300,000 Pakistanis will generate employment in the country and boost its exports, state-run media reported. 

Pakistan and Huawei last year signed an agreement to train 300,000 Pakistani youths in information and communication technology (ICT) skills to match international standards. Huawei is providing training to Pakistani youth in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud computing and other advanced technologies under the initiative.

The Pakistani prime minister met a five-member delegation of the company, headed by its Chief Executive Officer Ethen Sun on Thursday, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

“Shehbaz Sharif said the government seeks a solid and long-term partnership with Huawei,” it said. “He highlighted that Huawei’s ICT training program will not only boost IT exports but will also help create employment opportunities for youth.”

Sharif’s office said earlier this month that Huawei has trained over 20,000 Pakistanis under the program. He was briefed by the delegation that 240,000 youths will receive basic training while 60,000 will undergo high-tech training under the initiative.

“The training is expected to be completed by the end of this year,” Radio Pakistan said. 

The state media said Huawei has additionally, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, introduced courses in AI, cloud computing, big data and cybersecurity in 15 Pakistani universities.

Pakistan views ICT as a driver of economic change and seeks to transform the sector into a cornerstone of its strategy for financial stability, courting foreign investment from countries like China and the Gulf states.

In its bid to generate more jobs countrywide, Sharif launched the Digital Youth Hub portal in Islamabad on Thursday. 

The initiative will connect young people to jobs, educational opportunities and enhance skills development in the country. 

Sharif’s government has repeatedly spoken of putting Pakistan on the track to economic recovery by increasing its exports. In its economic transformation plan issued this year, the government says it hopes to achieve $60 billion in exports in the next five years.