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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 ... |
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. Sour... |
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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Comment by Riaz Haq on December 19, 2025 at 4:40pm
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U.S. Mission in Pakistan, in partnership with Vanderbilt University (Tennessee, USA), marked the completion of the STEMpowered project, a $294,000 initiative that brought U.S. teaching and leadership expertise to strengthen STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in Pakistan.
https://thediplomaticinsight.com/us-pakistan-highlight-educational-...
In partnership with Sukkur IBA (SIBA) University and Beyond the Classroom Education, the program included a week-long immersion at Vanderbilt for SIBA faculty, focusing on STEM teaching methods, research, AI in education, and refining practical solutions for classroom challenges.
To culminate the program, the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi hosted a four-day workshop in partnership with Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development, uniting 30 Pakistani STEM educators, four Peabody faculty, 11 SIBA faculty, and 16 students.
Through interactive sessions and presentations, participants enhanced their teaching skills and built professional networks for ongoing collaboration. The program also strengthened ties with peer institutions, including faculty from Aga Khan University, and reaffirmed U.S. leadership in global STEM education.
Participants in the program produced a STEM Toolkit and a Curriculum Quality Assurance Framework which will support nationwide adoption of U.S. best practices.
In a targeted pilot study across selected classrooms in Sindh province, the project achieved strong results. Low-cost, inquiry-based methods increased student confidence in STEM experiments by 60–80%, while culturally-relevant teaching raised girls’ participation and leadership in STEM by over 30%.
The STEMpowered initiative demonstrates the strength of the U.S.–Pakistan educational partnership, leveraging American excellence and rigorous methodology to drive systemic educational reform and pave the way for continued collaboration and innovation in critical STEM fields.
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AI Overview
The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) in Pakistan is a flagship educational program launched to equip local youth with advanced AI, IoT, and Big Data skills to foster technological growth. It acts as a CSR initiative aimed at enhancing employability in the tech sector.
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Here are the key details about the Samsung Innovation Campus in Pakistan:
Core Focus and Features
Programs: The campus offers intensive, free, in-person training focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).
Curriculum: The training involves over 240 hours of instruction, ranging from theoretical foundations to practical, hands-on project work.
Target Audience: The program is designed for Pakistani nationals, typically aged 22–28, with a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering.
Goal: To bridge the gap between education and industry requirements, improving employment prospects for young graduates.
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Locations and Implementation
Coverage: The program operates in major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad.
Partnerships: Samsung partners with local organizations like Knowledge Streams to deliver these trainings.
Recent Activity: As of February 2026, the program has launched new cohorts and continues to offer training in AI.
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Key Information for Applicants (2025/2026)
Application: Applicants can apply through the official Samsung Pakistan Innovation Campus portal.
Duration: The training period typically lasts around 12 weeks, featuring on-premise classes.
Eligibility Restrictions: In some cohorts, graduates from specific institutions like LUMS, NUST, GIKI, and Habib University were not eligible, as the program targeted a broader demographic.
samsung.com
samsung.com
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Note: The Samsung Innovation Campus is different from the Samsung Service Centers, which are dedicated to technical repair and customer support (e.g., in Johar Town, Lahore).
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Pakistan has secured a leading position in a global IT skills ranking, surpassing more than 70 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The achievement is being seen as a major milestone for the country’s growing digital sector and expanding tech talent.
Programs such as the SCO Software Technology Park and Cisco Networking Academy, along with over 100 IT centers in regions including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, have helped train thousands of young professionals. Experts believe this progress highlights Pakistan’s strong potential in freelancing, remote work, innovation, and global digital competitiveness.
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Former NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik has been named one of the world's top 25 identity leaders by US-based cybersecurity company Okta.
The prestigious international recognition honors his sustained contributions to software creation, standards evolution, and making digital transactions safe globally.
To commemorate this major tech achievement, Malik was prominently featured on the iconic Nasdaq billboard in Times Square, New York City.
During his recognition, Malik emphasized the crucial convergence of digital identity, data security, and artificial intelligence into a unified global trust layer.
He currently serves as a technical adviser to the World Bank’s Identification for Development program, continuing his work on large-scale digital public infrastructure.
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As of 2026, Pakistan has approximately 400,000 total registered engineers. This official tally is tracked by the regulatory Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).The overall workforce dynamic presents several critical factors:Key Workforce StatisticsAnnual Supply: Pakistan produces around 25,000 new engineering graduates every year from its accredited universities.Unemployment Rate: The sector faces a notable employment mismatch. Recent statistics show that 23.5% of engineers face unemployment, with roughly 70,000 engineers actively seeking jobs on the official PEC HireEngr Portal.Global Migration: Due to saturated local markets, an estimated 30% of Pakistani engineers move abroad to seek employment, primarily heading to Gulf countries, Europe, and North America.
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Pakistan, US extend higher education partnership for 5 years - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
https://www.dawn.com/news/2022247
Agreement signed to support 66 PhD scholars while expanding opportunities for advanced education, research and academic exchange
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have renewed their longstanding partnership in higher education through a new five-year agreement between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).
According to the federal ministry of education, the renewal of partnership reaffirmed shared commitment to academic excellence, human capital development, research, and international educational cooperation.
The agreement was signed by USEFP Executive Director Dr Peter Moran and HEC Executive Director Professor Dr Ziaul Haq at the USEFP headquarters in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Moran stated: “USEFP-administered programs empower participants to develop skills and practical knowledge that directly benefit Pakistan’s development across all sectors of society. We are grateful for the continued partnership of the governments of the United States and Pakistan in advancing this mission.”
Prof Haq on the occasion remarked: “The HEC–Fulbright long-standing partnership stands as a hallmark of educational cooperation and continues to deliver immense value to Pakistan’s higher education landscape.”
“The United States is proud to renew this partnership with Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission,” said David Moyer, Acting Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the US Embassy.
According to a press release issued by the embassy, the programmes supported through the agreement reflect both governments’ investment in empowering future leaders, scholars, and professionals who will contribute to Pakistan’s progress while strengthening US-Pakistan ties.
“Through this partnership, Pakistani students and scholars gain access to the renowned American education system while improving capacity across Pakistan’s higher education sector. Americans coming to Pakistan collaborate on innovative research, business, and public health ventures that benefit U.S. universities, businesses, and the wider public,” it added.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the education ministry said Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar took the lead from the ministry in advancing Pakistan–United States educational cooperation.
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