LAHORE: The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has launched the Chief Minister’s IT Internship Program (CMITIP) under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to bridge the gap between academia and industry and create job opportunities for young IT graduates.
The program was officially inaugurated by PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf at the Arfa Software Technology Park, Lahore. PITB DG e-Governance Sajid Latif, Director Skills Development Ahmed Islam, and representatives from the IT industry and academia also attended the ceremony.
Under the CMITIP, 2,000 paid internships will be offered to IT graduates across Punjab over the next two years. Each internship will last five months and include a monthly stipend of Rs50,000. The program will run in four batches, and partner companies will receive Rs12,500 per intern to support mentorship and training activities.
Speaking at the launch, Chairman Faisal Yousaf said the initiative is a “major step toward preparing youth for the global digital economy.” He noted that with Punjab producing around 45,000 IT graduates annually, the program aims to give them not just degrees, but practical skills, exposure, and confidence to succeed in the tech industry.
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Companies registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and having offices in Punjab can register on the program’s online portal to host interns. Applicants must hold 16 years of education in an IT-related field and have graduated within the last four years.
The selection process will include an online pre-assessment test and interviews conducted by participating companies. During the internship, each trainee’s progress will be evaluated monthly by supervisors, and stipends will be directly transferred to interns’ bank accounts to ensure transparency.
With 64% of Pakistan’s IT companies based in Punjab and national IT exports surpassing $3.8 billion in FY 2024–25, the CMITIP marks a strategic step to boost the province’s role in Pakistan’s digital economy and contribute to the national target of $10–18 billion IT exports by 2028.
