Pakistan has taken another step toward building its semiconductor workforce as Ignite, working under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), graduated the latest batch of engineers from its Integrated Circuit (IC) Design and Verification Training and Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) Program.
The 10-month program was conducted in collaboration with FAST-NUCES University. It was fully funded by Ignite and implemented through the ICD Lab at the Islamabad campus of FAST-NUCES.
The training focused on advanced IC design, VLSI verification, System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures, and industry-standard semiconductor design tools. Students also received practical experience to prepare for careers in the semiconductor industry.
The graduating batch included 30 engineers from 20 districts across Pakistan. Among them were 10 women engineers. The program also achieved a 100% completion rate. Participants were selected through a nationwide merit-based process. Moreover, more than 70% of graduates have already received job offers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja said, “The initiative reflects the government’s commitment, under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision, to prepare Pakistani youth for high-value careers in advanced technologies. I am proud to see ten women engineers graduating from this program and hope that women continue to contribute to Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda.”
Ignite Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Bilal Abbasi also highlighted the program’s impact. He said, “The program demonstrates that Pakistani engineers can compete globally when provided with world-class training and industry exposure. The strong employment outcomes highlight the growing demand for Pakistan’s technology talent.”
The program received strong interest from across the country. According to Ignite, it attracted more than 1,000 applications after outreach campaigns in all provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan.
In addition, FAST-NUCES funded an extra 10% of participants through its own educational budget. As a result, students did not face any additional costs.
FAST-NUCES Rector Dr. Aftab Ahmed Maroof said the university’s ICD Lab has graduated seven batches of IC Design engineers since 2019. He added that the lab earned international recognition by securing six of the top ten positions in an IEEE competition. The facility now also trains engineers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
During the event, Ignite recognized the contributions of FAST-NUCES, faculty members, industry experts, and mentors who supported the program. The organization also reaffirmed its commitment to investing in emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and semiconductor design.
