The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has pledged its support to bolster the investor network for the upcoming Pakistan Startup Fund. In a virtual meeting on Tuesday, the Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication conveyed this commitment to the Secretary General of DCO.
Scheduled for early next year, Pakistan is set to host DCO’s inaugural event on Digital Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), uniting member states including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, and Jordan. The primary focus of the discussion centered on facilitating Pakistani IT companies in expanding their business operations within DCO member states.
The Minister emphasized the positive relations between Pakistan and DCO member countries, highlighting the forthcoming DCO digital passport as a transformative one-stop shop. This digital passport aims to facilitate seamless expansion for digital businesses, starting with Pakistani companies seeking entry into Saudi Arabia’s markets.
The meeting underscored DCO’s role in enlarging the investor network for the upcoming Pakistan Startup Fund, a move poised to stimulate and fortify the startup ecosystem in the country.
In a parallel initiative, the Minister chaired a meeting to finalize a collaboration plan with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to elevate the quality of Computer Science students in universities and enhance their employability in the IT industry.
The meeting resulted in a decision for HEC, in collaboration with the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council, to conduct a standardized test for quality assessment and placement of IT students during their final semester.
As part of this initiative, PSEB will compile data on students who take and pass the standardized test, paving the way for an industry co-op program in the final semester. This program will offer students 6-9 credit units for practical experience gained by working in the industry before graduation. PASHA will collaborate with the industry to ensure the placement of qualified students in IT companies, opening up valuable job opportunities.
The meeting, attended by key stakeholders including HEC Executive Director Dr. Ziaul Qayyum and CEO of Ignite Asim Shahryar Husain, reflects a concerted effort to align education with industry needs, fostering a skilled workforce for the evolving digital landscape.
