PakAlumni Worldwide: The Global Social Network
Over A Million Pakistani University Students Enrolled in STEM Fields
Over a million students, about a third of total 3 million students (1.4 million women, 1.6 million men) enrolled in Pakistani universities and degree colleges, are currently studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM Education), according to data released by the country's Higher Education Commission (HEC). Of these students, 415,008 are studying natural sciences and mathematics, 276,659 are in information and communication technologies (ICT), 178,260 are in health sciences and 166,457 are in engineering. Pakistan produced 157,102 STEM graduates last year, putting it among the world's top dozen or so countries. About 43,000 of these graduates are in information technology (IT).
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| Student Enrollment By Field of Study at Pakistani Higher Education Institutions. Source: HEC |
Nearly half a million Pakistani women are currently enrolled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses at universities, accounting for nearly 46% of all STEM students in higher education institutions in the country.
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| Clockwise From Top Left: Nergis Mavalvala, Maria Abrar, Maheen Adamson, Tasneem Zehra Husain, Sundas Khalid, Asifa Akhtar |
Acceptance rate in Pakistani universities and degree colleges was just 13.5% last year. Only 541,043 students were accepted from 4,085,185 students who applied. The country produced 471,306 university graduates in 2020-21. Of these, 157,102 were in STEM fields, including 43,000 graduates in information technology (IT).
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| Pakistan Higher Education Admission and Graduation Statistics. Source: HEC |
In absolute terms, Pakistan probably ranks among the top dozen or so nations producing university graduates in STEM and IT fields. However, the country lags significantly behind its lower middle income peers in terms of percentage of students enrolled in universities. Only 12% of young people in the 18-25 age group are currently enrolled in higher education institutions. This is about half of the 25% average for South Asia. The data from the World Bank shows that the higher education enrollment rate was extremely low in Pakistan until 2000 when late President Musharraf decided to significantly boost investment in building universities and hire faculty to rapidly increase access to higher education in the country.
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| Tertiary Education Enrollment Rates. Source: World Bank |
As Pakistan struggles with multiple serious crises, these young men and women now studying in the nation's universities and colleges offer hope for its bright future. In fact, the vast majority of Pakistanis feel that they have better lives than their parents did, and they think their children will have even better lives than theirs, according to a Gallup International Poll of 64 countries conducted from August to October last year. The poll asked two questions: 1) Do you feel your life is better, worse or roughly similar to that of your parents? and 2) Do you think your children will have a better, worse or roughly the same life as you? The answers to these questions reveal that Pakistanis are among the top 5 most positive nations among 64 countries polled by Gallup International. Anecdotal evidence in terms of packed shopping malls and restaurants in Pakistan's major cities confirms it. Such positivity augurs well for Pakistan's prospects of successfully dealing with the current crises. It will drive the nation's recovery.
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Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel
Riaz Haq
𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐒𝐓𝐏 𝟑.𝟎 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝟑 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡!
https://www.vu.edu.pk/NewsDetails?type=&NewsId=9269
DigiSkills.pk, Pakistan’s largest digital skills training program, is back with a bold new goal: DSTP 3.0 aims to provide 3 million training opportunities to Pakistani youth over the next three and a half years — all completely free.
The launch of DSTP 3.0 was marked by a significant signing ceremony at the Virtual University of Pakistan’s Head Office in Islamabad. Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, Rector of Virtual University, and Mr. Adeel Aijaz Shaikh, CEO Ignite, formally kicked off the next chapter of this impactful initiative.
Looking ahead, Dr. Nasir Mahmood shared that DigiSkills.pk is expanding and updating its course catalog to keep pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape. Ten new, in-demand courses are being added, including: UI/UX with Webflow, Cloud Computing, Legal and Medical Freelancing, 3D Modeling, AI with Python, Shopify Development & Dropshipping, Full Stack Development (MERN), Mobile App & Game Development, and Startup Strategies & Entrepreneurship.
The original 15 courses are also getting updated to align with the latest global trends. Dr. Nasir added that the Virtual University is now embedding skill-based learning into its degree programs to better equip students for real-world challenges.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ehsen Puri, Director ICT at Virtual University, highlighted the platform’s strong track record — including over Rs. 1 billion (reported by DigiSkills trainees with proofs) in estimated freelance earnings by DigiSkills alumni. Notably, 33% of trainees have been women, showcasing the platform’s commitment to inclusivity.
Ignite CEO Adeel Aijaz Shaikh emphasized how Phase 3.0 will contribute to Pakistan’s growing gig economy. “These programs are not just about learning—they’re about transforming lives, reducing unemployment, and creating sustainable income streams for our youth,” he said.
With fresh content, a forward-looking approach, and a mission to uplift millions more, DigiSkills.pk is all set to shape the future of work in Pakistan.
May 19
Riaz Haq
Pakistan’s flourishing IT talent going globalーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
https://youtu.be/OTKnLPNoLvQ?si=z5jPYlTo7iuB9ZWe
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pakistan in recent years has been
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emerging as an IT powerhouse the world's
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fifth most populous country annually
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produces about 75,000 IT related
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graduates the government is positioning
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the industry as a key sector for
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development nhk World's Sed Mudabir
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Risby reports
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the National University of Science and
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Technology in Islamabad is a leading
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institution for IT professionals
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boasting more than 18,000
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students at a request from a university
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in Japan this laboratory is developing a
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system that uses AI to diagnose a
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condition called fra syndrome
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frail is generally characterized by a
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decline in physical strength and
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cognitive function this increases the
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risk for the need for nursing care
1:04
diagnosing the syndrome is becoming
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increasingly important as populations
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age around the world but this takes time
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and effort
1:15
please raise your right foot
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this test measures how long a person can
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stand on one leg ai detects the position
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of the leg once it is lifted from the
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ground our timer starts so you see once
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the test is started we don't interfere
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the system monitors it by itself
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the AI system also measures several
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other movements necessary for diagnosis
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it analyzes data from various tests and
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responses to
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questions slashing the diagnosis time
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from over 4 hours to about one we will
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see uh how much
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uh efficient it is in terms of human
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resource and time
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saving
2:06
a professor at the university that
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requested the system said it was
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developed at a fraction of the cost a
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Japanese company would require
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to be honest we were not sure if they
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could produce what we wanted to the
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right level it was a risk but frankly
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speaking they produced something that
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exceeded our expectations
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john's Hopkins University renowned for
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its public health studies has set up an
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affiliate at nurs it's conducting
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research into infectious disease
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prevention and other fields
2:51
various reasons that it is the hub of
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scientific you know culture there are
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all different departments students are
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there so we we considered it a more
3:00
conducive environment for any
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organization who is working on the
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health sector
nast is also working on a project with
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US tech giant Meta they have recreated
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Pakistan's world's heritage sites in the
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metaverse to allow people to take
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virtual tours meta Facebook has
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indicated you know our name among their
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partners in the world in the large
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language models and generative
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artificial intelligence so I think that
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uh we are eager to work with all of the
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world pakistan has competitive
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advantages in such key areas as English
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the country's official language abundant
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human resources and low labor costs by
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leveraging them the country is expanding
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its IT outsourcing and software
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development markets primarily in Europe
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the US and Japan sayby and HK World
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Samad
Jul 7
Riaz Haq
on Sunday