Lahore — The Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), in partnership with the World Bank Group, hosted an expert roundtable on Pakistan’s Skills and Jobs Agenda, bringing together leaders from the health, technology, and government sectors to chart a clearer path from training to employment and from domestic skills development to global labour market access. The session was chaired by Mamta Murthi, Vice President of the World Bank Group’s People Vice Presidency, and moderated by Ahmed Khan, CEO of PSDF. Discussions centered on two priority sectors; Human Resources for Health (HRH) and IT & IT Outsourcing (ITO) along with the governance and labour mobility frameworks needed to support Punjab’s ongoing skills transformation. 

Opening the session, Mamta Murthi stressed that outcomes, not outputs, must drive the skills agenda. "The real test is not the number of certificates or the number of people trained. The real test is whether people land in meaningful jobs. That must be not a corollary, but the focus of skills and workforce development,” she said. Adnan Afzal Chattha, Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skills Development in Punjab, outlined the province’s commitment to aligning its qualifications with international benchmarks. Punjab has signed an MoU with UK awarding bodies to adopt the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and is finalizing an agreement with an international healthcare placement partner to connect qualified Pakistani health workers with European markets.  

"We want to train our workforce to the standard of the destination, not just the standard of the sending institution. Skilled manpower export is not a peripheral policy ambition, it is a macroeconomic imperative,” he said. Ahmed Khan, CEO of PSDF, reflected on the outcomes of the day’s discussion: "This roundtable has surfaced both the depth of the challenge and the clarity of the path forward. We are going to start working on the action steps, and we hope to have many more of these conversations until we get it right.” 

The roundtable highlighted strong momentum in Pakistan’s IT sector. IT exports crossed USD 437 million in December 2025, the first month ever to exceed USD 400 million with the sector growing at 20 percent year-on-year. IT sector employability has risen from 10 percent to 32 percent over the past two to three years, driven by targeted, demand-led curriculum reform, evidence that this model delivers results. A national centralized assessment of 41,000 final-year IT and CS graduates, conducted in April 2026 using industry-designed questions, marks a major step toward credible, independent quality measurement across the sector. 

On the health front, Pakistan produces roughly 5,600 nursing graduates annually, with international placement demand rising sharply, particularly in Europe and the Gulf. Participants agreed that pre-departure language preparation, cultural immersion programs, and stronger embassy-level facilitation are the investments most likely to accelerate Pakistan’s growing footprint in international health labour markets. 

On governance, Punjab’s establishment of an independent Department for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship was recognized as a landmark institutional reform, bringing the province’s skills bodies under a single, unified accountability structure. Participants also identified formally mapping Pakistan’s National Vocational Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework as the most critical next step in unlocking full access to European labour markets, a process Punjab is already advancing through its engagement with UK awarding bodies.  

Adnan Afzal Chattha confirmed that a three-year budget proposal has been submitted to the Chief Minister for approval, covering EQF adoption, international employer partnerships, Punjab Board of Technical Education reform, and the scale-up of programs for rural women, IT, hospitality, and agriculture. "We are always looking forward to your guidance and experience. Wherever you are working with other stakeholders in the world, we are ready to learn from you and work with you,” he added. 

PSDF remains committed to working with the World Bank Group and international partners to ensure Punjab’s skilled workforce is equipped not just with certificates, but with real access to meaningful, sustainable employment at home and abroad. 

Flagship initiative of the Chief Minister’s Skilled Punjab Program expected to generate nearly  USD 250,000 in annual remittances 

LAHORE: PSDF, through its Tabeer program, launched under the Chief Minister’s Skilled Punjab Program,has successfully facilitated overseas employment for more than 65 young Pakistanis, who received their job offer letters on Friday to begin work as Lead workers in Qatar. 

The placements mark a dual milestone; securing dignified, well-paying employment for Punjab’s youth while strengthening Pakistan’s broader economic resilience. 

Collectively, more than 65 workers in this batch are expected to contribute close to USD 250,000 annually in remittances, injecting much-needed foreign exchange into the economy, supporting households across the province,  and reinforcing Pakistan’s balance of payments. On average, each Pakistani worker abroad  sends home  an estimated USD 3,000- 5,000 a year, part of more than USD 32 billion in remittances Pakistan received last year. 

A model for skills-driven economic growth. The PSDF–Tabeer program is designed to connect Pakistani youth with overseas labour markets  through demand-driven training. The decision to place candidates specifically as Lead Workers reflects the program’s emphasis on preparing the workforce not only for employment, but for roles of responsibility and leadership abroad. 

Delivered by PSDF in collaboration with Alif – Recruitment C Manpower Solutions, the program ensures that participants are equipped with the right skills, certifications,  and job-readiness to meet international employer expectations. 

As one of the first large-scale initiatives focused on structured overseas placements, PSDF–Tabeer positions itself as more than a training program, it is a blueprint for channeling  Pakistan’s demographic dividend into the global labour market.  

"For us, this is not only about creating jobs but about transforming futures. Through PSDF–Tabeer, young Pakistanis are securing dignified, well-paying positions abroad, contributing to their families and to the economic strength of Pakistan,” said Ahmed Khan,  CEO, PSDF. 

"This milestone aligns with the Chief Minister’s vision of exporting skilled workers to the Gulf region. 

It is only the beginning of what we aim to accomplish, as many more such opportunities are  in the  pipeline. The journey has just started, and there is a lot more to come,” added Adnan Afzal Chattha, Chairperson of the CM Task Force on  Skills Development. 

Through demand-driven programs such as Tabeer, PSDF works to unlock prosperity for individuals,  families, and the nation by aligning training with real market needs. 

Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), in line with Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision of empowering women and its unwavering commitment to skill development, has partnered with iamtheCODE, a global movement dedicated to advance STEAMED (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, and Design) education. This partnership aims to empower women and girls across Pakistan by providing them with essential coding skills and digital literacy, aligning with iamtheCODE’s global mission to train 1 million female coders by 2030.

Nearly 49% of the Pakistan’s population comprises of women and girls but are facing significant barriers to education and employment that limits opportunities for meaningful economic and social contributions (Source: UN).

The collaboration between PSDF and iamtheCODE brings a unique approach to skills development, leveraging innovative resources and global connectivity. Learners will benefit from access to iamtheCODE’s proprietary digital platform and a 12-week curriculum, preloaded on devices to ensure seamless accessibility. Moreover, the program emphasizes on mentorship and leadership development, engaging participants through hackathons, leadership talks, and mentorship sessions led by community leaders. Virtual communication will play a vital role, with regular Zoom sessions connecting learners with mentors and global experts to broaden their perspectives.

Lady Mariéme Jamme, CEO of iamtheCODE said while highlighting the program’s impact, “iamtheCODE is thrilled to partner with PSDF to bring our mission to Pakistan. Together, we will create opportunities for women and girls to learn coding, build sustainable livelihoods, and become change-makers in their communities.”

To ensure sustainability, PSDF will facilitate community outreach, infrastructure, and spaces, while iamtheCODE will focus on capacity building by training local mentors and educators. By leveraging the strengths of both organizations, this partnership aims to transform lives, enhance employability, and position Pakistan as a leader in inclusive digital education.

Ahmed Khan, CEO of PSDF expressed his views about the collaboration stating, “This partnership reflects our shared vision of unlocking the potential of women and girls through education and skills development. With iamtheCODE’s innovative platform and curriculum, we aim to equip learners in Pakistan with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy and drive meaningful social change.”

In a groundbreaking initiative by Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has launched a new program, CM’s Skills Development Program for Transgenders to drive social change and inclusion. The primary focus of this program is to empower the transgender community through comprehensive skills development and income generation opportunities through the provision of toolkits and concessionary loans.

Pakistan’s transgender community is estimated to be over 4 million but remains marginalized. Across the country only 20,000 transgender individuals are registered, resulting in exclusion from formal education, skills training and employment opportunities. In light of these challenges, CM Punjab is eager to empower transgender community by providing access to formal education and training in market-relevant trades.

The objective of this program is to skill 2,200 transgender individuals and provide them with on-the-job training resulting in meaningful employment opportunities over 2 years. This program aims to focus on skills training in market-relevant trades like performing arts, beauty services, domestic tailoring, culinary arts and IT with an inclusive approach that incorporates Gurus and other transgender individuals as trainers. This ensures that the training is not only comprehensive but also culturally sensitive and empathetic, with dedicated classrooms thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs of the transgender community.

In order to mobilize transgender individuals for the program, PSDF has entered a strategic partnership with Khawaja Sira Society. Mahnoor Chaudary, Director of Khawaja Sira Society, emphasized on what part they will play to make this collaboration fruitful saying, "We will identify and mobilize potential transgender trainees through community engagement and will facilitate the creation of CNICs, provide access to HIV testing, and conduct capacity-building sessions to raise awareness about the program’s outcomes. Additionally, we will ensure continuous collaboration with PSDF to track progress and ensure successful integration into the workforce.”

Financial support is a key component of the program as trainees will have access to concessionary micro-finance and toolkits increasing the prospects of starting businesses or securing jobs. Additionally, the program will assist transgender individuals with registration and documentation with NADRA, enhancing their social and financial inclusion. The integration of both social and financial support ensures a more inclusive society where transgender individuals can contribute to and benefit from the economic mainstream.

Ahmed Khan, CEO of PSDF, said "We are thrilled to launch this program, which represents a significant step towards social inclusion and empowerment for Pakistan’s transgender community. It will prove to be a significant step in achieving an equitable and inclusive society.”