The Ignite-National Technology Fund board has approved the DigiSkills 3.0 program, an upgraded version of its flagship online training initiative. The decision was made under the leadership of Secretary IT Zarar Hashim, who also serves as Chairman of the Board.
The new program aims to provide free training to three million youth over three years and six months. Expanding on its predecessor, DigiSkills 2.0, which offered 15 online courses, the latest version introduces 25 free courses to enhance digital literacy and freelancing skills across Pakistan.
The board has allocated a budget of approximately Rs. 1.79 billion for DigiSkills 3.0. Among the ten newly introduced courses are UI/UX and Web Flow, 3D Modeling, Cloud Computing, Shopify Development & Drop Shipping, Artificial Intelligence using Python, Mobile Game and App Development, and Full Stack Development with MERN. Additionally, courses on Startup Strategies and Entrepreneurship have been included to support individuals looking to establish their own businesses.
Since its launch in 2018, the DigiSkills program has trained over four million individuals from 300 cities across Pakistan. Designed through a collaboration between Ignite and the Virtual University of Pakistan, the initiative has played a critical role in strengthening the IT sector by preparing a skilled workforce attuned to technological advancements and the evolving dynamics of the global gig economy. DigiSkills.pk, the platform hosting the program, has positioned itself as the country’s largest online training initiative, offering certifications through the Virtual University.
A key focus of DigiSkills.pk has been women’s empowerment, with over 800,000 female participants benefiting from training opportunities since 2018. The initiative has helped bridge the gender gap in digital employment by providing equal learning opportunities and enabling more women to join the freelancing and IT workforce.
