Punjab Ensuring Youth Economic Empowerment: Azma BukhariPakistan

She said thousands of young people have already received IT training through the four-month internship programme, with each intern receiving a monthly stipend of Rs50,000 from the Punjab government.

The provincial information minister added that registration for the third phase of the programme is currently underway, providing more graduates with opportunities to acquire professional IT skills and establish sustainable careers.

According to Dunya News, the minister said the Maryam Nawaz-led government believes in delivering practical results rather than making verbal promises. She emphasised that empowering young people and making them financially self-reliant is a key part of the vision for a prosperous and developing Punjab.

The Chief Minister IT Internship Programme is run by the Punjab Information Technology Board and places graduates with leading IT companies across the province, where they gain on-site experience and build professional portfolios.

According to reports of the programme’s launch, more than 4,000 shortlisted candidates are to be placed in over 350 leading IT companies across Punjab under the current phase. Each intern receives a monthly stipend of Rs50,000 for the four-month internship, subject to performance and submission of a degree verified by the Higher Education Commission.

To be eligible, applicants must hold a degree in information technology, computer science or a relevant discipline completed within the last four years. Applicants must also hold a valid Computerised National Identity Card and a Punjab domicile, and must be currently unemployed.

Interested graduates can register online through the programme’s official registration portal. The minister said the programme would continue to expand so that more young people across the province can gain the skills needed for sustainable careers in the technology sector.