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After a year-long delay, Ignite National Technology Fund has officially launched Phase 3 of Pakistan’s biggest digital skills program, DigiSkills 3.0.
The initiative will run for the next 3.5 years and aims to provide 3 million free trainings to youth across Pakistan. The first batch begins on August 1, 2025.
New courses, upgraded content
In DigiSkills 3.0, the program will continue offering its 15 popular courses. These include Freelancing, Digital Marketing, SEO, Graphic Design, WordPress, and Creative Writing.
Now, 10 high-demand courses are being added to the lineup. New additions include Artificial Intelligence (AI), UI/UX Design, and Mobile App Development. All existing courses have been fully updated to match the changing needs of global freelance markets.
300,000 seats in first batch
Enrollment for Batch-01 is now open with 300,000 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. DigiSkills management confirmed that no extra seats will be added once the limit is reached. Youth across Pakistan are encouraged to enroll immediately.
Background and criticism over delay
DigiSkills first launched in August 2018 under the Ministry of IT and Telecom, powered by Ignite and implemented by the Virtual University of Pakistan. The first two phases trained over 4.5 million individuals.
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However, Phase 3.0 faced strong criticism due to its long delay. During a National Assembly Standing Committee meeting in May 2025, Chairman Syed Amin Ul Haque criticized the government for the one-year hold-up. He labeled it a major setback, especially amid rising global demand for skills in AI and emerging tech.
What caused the delay?
Ignite officials revealed that the delay stemmed from two major issues. No appointment of a new CEO at Ignite and inactive Board of Directors led by the Federal IT Secretary.
The board finally met last month, approving DigiSkills 3.0 and other long-pending projects. Officials said the pause allowed for a complete curriculum overhaul, aligning it with international tech trends.
For further information visit DigiSkills official website: https://digiskills.pk/
