Senate Body Briefed On Ignite's Performance

The Senate's Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication was briefed on the ongoing projects of Ignite National Technology Fund on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Sep, 2018 ) :The Senate's Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication was briefed on the ongoing projects of Ignite National Technology Fund on Wednesday.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Rubina Khalid while senators Abdul Rehman Malik, Ashok Kumar, Rukhsana Zuberi, Sana Jamali, Fida Muhammad, Taj Muhammad Afridi and Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh attended the meeting.

Chief Executive Officer Ignite National Technology Fund Yousaf Hussain told the committee that Ignite was working to create knowledge economy through its research and development (R&D) initiative in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and commercialization of research.

He said around one million youth throughout the country could get benefit from the programme, who would provide services to the entire world.

He said the training of first batch under the `Digiskills Programme,' had started on August 1. Some 60,331 out of 64,332 registered youth were enrolled for the first batch, who were being imparted marketable digital skills. Training courses were available at a user-friendly web portal with a comprehensive online learning management system, he added.

Yousaf Hussain said the enrollment for the second batch would start on November 1.

He said 143 projects worth Rs 2,378 million had been approved, 44 of which were ongoing projects, 18 were in the closure process and 18 others had been closed.

He said Ignite was also funding projects in the education sector such as 'Learn Smart Pakistan', 'Qalum Guru' and 'Wondertree'.

He said Ignite had also awarded scholarships to some 4,000 students across the country.

Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh highlighted the problems being faced by free-lancers. They faced hurdles in opening of bank accounts, he said.

Senator Rehman Malik suggested the committee to invite brilliant students, who were working on innovative ideas in the field of Information Technology, to its meetings to acknowledge their work.

The committee chairperson and members expressed their condolences to the Sharif family over the demise of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and offered 'Fateha' for her departed soul.