Google to increase scholarships to 450,000 next year

KARACHI (APP): Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haq has said an agreement has been inked with Google for 45,000 scholarships which will increase to 450,000 next year.

At least 40 percent of the scholarships of Google will be for women. He said this while addressing the Startups for Industries and IT Exports conference at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) in Karachi.

The minister said Google had earlier given only 15,000 scholarships last year, but these were increased after consultation.

A building has been constructed at NED University at a cost of $ 1.6 million for gaming and animation, for further promotion and growth of this industry.

He said the IT ministry was working on the vision of 2050. The investment in Pakistan till 2020 was $ 75 million which increased to $ 373 million by 2021. Similarly, after the efforts of the ministry, the regulatory duty on mobile has been abolished from March 30, he said.

Earlier, former chairman of KATI Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said that entrepreneurs and startups were working very hard, but today there is no need for huge investment for startups.

He said research and development has an important role in IT. Right now startups are doing a great job which is needed in the industry.

Deputy Patron of KATI Zubair Chhaya said that when Federal Minister Aminul Haq took over his office, the IT exports were at the level of $ 1 billion, but at the end of the last financial year, exports of $ 2.6 billion were recorded.

He said that it is welcoming that Pakistan’s IT exports have increased and the neighbouring country’s exports last year were $149 billion.