Pakistan Launches ‘INSPIRE’ Initiative to Train 7,200 Semiconductor Experts, Marking Leap Toward Digital Future

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched INSPIRE, Pakistan’s first national semiconductor initiative to train 7,200 professionals in design and research. Backed by Rs 4.5 billion in funding, the program marks Pakistan’s entry into the $600 billion global semiconductor market and a major step toward a knowledge-based digital economy. INSPIRE will connect universities, industry, and research, positioning Pakistan as an emerging player in advanced technology and digital innovation.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 22, 2025 (Dawn News) — Pakistan took a major step toward technological self reliance on Tuesday as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the INSPIRE (Initiative to Nurture Semiconductor Professionals for Industry, Research & Education) program a landmark effort to train more than 7,000 professionals in semiconductor design and research.

The initiative, hailed as “a milestone in Pakistan’s transition to a knowledge based digital economy,” aims to position the country within the $600 billion global semiconductor market and establish a foundation for long term innovation, research, and industrial growth.

“This is the beginning of Pakistan’s journey into the industries of tomorrow,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the launch event in Islamabad. “Through INSPIRE, we are building the foundations of a new economic frontier one where Pakistan contributes talent, technology, and innovation to the world.”

Under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the government has allocated Rs 4.5 billion to fund the project. The prime minister assured that financial resources “will not be a constraint” in achieving the program’s ambitious targets and urged swift execution.

The initiative’s first phase will train 7,200 professionals over the next five years in semiconductor design, verification, and research. Nine public-sector universities across Pakistan’s northern, central, and southern regions will participate, alongside the establishment of six new Integrated Circuit (IC) labs to bolster practical learning and industry collaboration.

The program is part of Pakistan’s National Semiconductor Development Roadmap, designed to eventually expand into Outsourced Assembly and Testing (OSAT) and fabrication capabilities, enabling the country to integrate into the global semiconductor supply chain.

Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja reaffirmed the government’s vision for a digitally empowered Pakistan, while Dr. Naveed Sherwani, chairman of the National Semiconductor Task Force, highlighted the country’s opportunity to develop a world class semiconductor ecosystem.

Abu Bakar, representing the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), said the program would link academia, research, and industry developing a skilled, sustainable workforce that can compete globally.

The prime minister also announced plans to accelerate Pakistan’s transition toward a cashless digital economy, with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) undergoing full digitisation and the Pakistan Digital Authority leading national digital governance efforts.

The initiative received support from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for enabling strong public-private collaboration and fostering technology focused investments.

In a separate meeting, Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the restructuring of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), directing authorities to facilitate SME registration and access to business loans — measures aimed at strengthening industrial and cottage sectors.

With the launch of INSPIRE, Pakistan has officially entered a new chapter of digital transformation one that promises innovation, opportunity, and a stronger foothold in the trillion-dollar global semiconductor industry.