Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced 30,000 scholarships for students in 30 universities across the province under the Google Career Certificate Program, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Monday.
According to the report, the initiative, in collaboration with Google and Tech Valley, aims to equip students with cutting-edge digital skills, enhancing their employment prospects in the global job market.
The signing ceremony for this groundbreaking initiative was held at the Chief Minister’s House, attended by Education Minister Sardar Shah, vice chancellors from 30 public sector universities, Tech Valley CEO Umar Farooq, and other dignitaries.
Murad Ali Shah officially launched the programme, emphasising that this initiative is an investment in the future of Sindh’s youth. "This scholarship programme is a milestone in our efforts to introduce digital education and skill-based training in the province," he stated. He further highlighted that the scholarships will play a crucial role in the socio-economic development of Sindh.
According to the chief minister, the programme builds upon the success of last year’s Google Career Certificates Sindh Programme 2024, where 1,500 deserving students from 10 government universities received scholarships. "This year, we are expanding it to 30 universities, benefiting 30,000 students," he added.
Students enrolled in the programme will receive training in advanced fields such as project management, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, UX design, digital marketing, and e-commerce. A special quota has been reserved for women and underprivileged students to ensure inclusivity.
Murad Ali Shah revealed that in 2024, 1,500 students successfully completed their Google Career Certificates with a 100% completion rate. Among them, 250 students specialised in project management, 247 in UX design, 206 in cybersecurity, 215 in digital marketing and e-commerce, and 172 in data analytics. The courses, designed by Google experts, can be completed online within 3 to 6 months.
The chief minister stressed that the scholarships will provide world-class training to Sindh’s students, making them competitive at the international level. "We have set a target of at least 30% women participants to bridge the gender gap in digital education," he noted.
Highlighting the success of the previous batch, Murad Ali Shah mentioned that many graduates have secured jobs at leading global firms. "Google scholarship recipients are earning salaries ranging from PKR 70,000 to PKR 1.6 million per month," he disclosed. He particularly praised the University of Sindh's Jamshoro student Leena Kumari, who completed the Google AI Essentials course and secured an internship. "Google even published her success story at an international level," he added.
He further announced that several Sindhi students have been hired by global companies, including Application, Day by Day Oman, and Teekjee. "With 30,000 scholarships planned for 2025, we aim to create a digital talent pool that will drive Sindh’s digital economy forward," he remarked.
Education Minister Sardar Shah reaffirmed that the Sindh government is committed to modernising education. Secretary IT Noor Ahmed Samoo termed the Google Career Certificates Program a "game-changer", stating that these globally recognised certificates will make Sindh’s youth highly competitive in the international job market.
Tech Valley CEO Umar Farooq expressed pride in partnering with the Sindh government in this transformative journey. "Graduates of this programme will receive employment opportunities, networking support, and mentorship to enhance their career prospects," he stated.