Pakistan has completed the institutional framework for its national semiconductor education and research clusters, marking a step towards developing a skilled workforce for the global chip industry.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja met Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi at Governor House in Karachi, where she also attended the Fintech Roundtable 2026.
She engaged with leading industry figures on advancing digital financial services and strengthening Pakistan’s fintech ecosystem, discussing key policy matters and priorities for sectoral growth.
During her visit, a contract was signed between the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and NED University of Engineering & Technology, formally designating NED as the lead university for the South Region under the Semiconductor Education & Research Cluster (SERC).
NED will join NUST, which leads the North Region, and ESUPAK-UET Lahore, which leads the Central Region.
The signing completes all SERC institutional agreements under the National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Program (NSHRDP)/INSPIRE, formally establishing Pakistan’s three regional semiconductor education and research clusters within the program’s first year.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that the signing marked a significant milestone in Pakistan’s journey to build a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem.
She noted that the current SERC intake is set to train 270 students across Pakistan in three regions, as part of a broader national target to develop over 7,200 semiconductor professionals by 2030.
Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi said the agreement reflected the government’s commitment to developing a knowledge-based economy.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would play a significant role in preparing the youth for the opportunities of the global semiconductor industry.
With all three SERC clusters now formally established, INSPIRE moves into full-scale implementation, setting the stage for a new generation of Pakistani semiconductor talent to drive the country’s digital and economic future.
