Pakistan’s Youth and the Untapped Tech Potential: A Nation at a Crossroads

A lady is typing on Mac book.

Pakistan stands at a digital crossroads. With over 60% of its population under the age of 30, the country has one of the youngest populations in the world. This youth bulge, if leveraged correctly, can be the nation’s most significant asset in the 21st century—the digital century. But instead, it’s becoming one of its biggest challenges.

Despite this demographic dividend, a large number of young Pakistanis remain unemployed or underemployed. The real tragedy? Many of them are educated, even technically trained—but still unable to find meaningful work in the country’s sluggish economy. The reason? A disconnect between education, technology, and industry needs.

Let’s break down why this is happening, and more importantly, how Pakistan can pivot toward a tech-forward future.

From Potential to Problem: What Went Wrong?

Pakistan’s efforts to educate and technically skill its youth aren’t new. In the early 2000s, the then-President Pervez Musharraf pushed forward a wave of education and technical training reforms. Under his regime, technical and vocational training institutes mushroomed across the country. These included public-private partnerships and new government-led initiatives aimed at producing a workforce ready for industrial growth.

One of the most impactful initiatives was TEVTA (Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority), which continues to function today across provinces. Over the last two decades, more than 30 million students have enrolled in TEVTA-affiliated programs. These include short-term courses (3-6 months) and long-term diploma programs (1-3 years) focused on trades like plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, computer hardware, and basic software skills.

But here’s the catch: Learning a skill is only useful if there’s a market demand for it. And over time, that demand has sharply declined.

The Tech-Industry Disconnect

Pakistan’s traditional industries—construction, manufacturing, textile—have been slow to adopt automation and digitization. And while global economies are racing toward artificial intelligence, machine learning, fintech, and green tech, Pakistan’s industrial policies remain focused on outdated modes of production.

So, what happens when you train a million young people in outdated technologies, or without pathways to global opportunities?

You get mass underemployment, brain drain, and frustration.

Imagine this: a young man from Multan completes a six-month course in computer hardware. He’s competent, he’s eager—but the local economy doesn’t need another computer technician. The local market is saturated. He doesn’t have access to remote work opportunities, and there’s no mentorship to guide him toward software development, UI/UX design, or freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.

That’s where the opportunity gap lies—and where technology could be the savior.

Technology: The Great Equalizer

Despite its struggles, Pakistan is not without hope. The country is witnessing a digital awakening. Internet penetration has grown, mobile broadband (4G) is becoming more accessible, and smartphones are in the hands of over 190 million people. This connectivity could become a launchpad for the youth if the right policies and support systems are put in place.

Here are five tech-forward solutions that can help Pakistan turn its youth into a productive digital workforce:

1. Align Technical Education with Industry 4.0

Pakistan needs to reimagine its technical education for the digital era. That means shifting focus from outdated trades to emerging technologies like:

  • Web and mobile development
  • AI and machine learning
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data science and analytics
  • Cloud computing
  • Blockchain and Web3
  • Digital marketing

The curriculum must be revised in partnership with tech companies, both local and international, so that students are learning what the market demands.

2. Freelance Economy: A Missed Opportunity

Pakistan is currently the 4th largest freelance market in the world. That’s massive. According to the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), freelance earnings are projected to cross $1 billion annually in the next few years.

And yet, most young people have no idea how to start freelancing. There’s a need for nationwide bootcamps and micro-courses that teach students how to set up accounts on Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal, and even LinkedIn. Soft skills like client communication, time management, and portfolio building should be part of the syllabus.

With just a laptop and an internet connection, a Pakistani student from Bahawalpur or Swat can be earning in dollars within months—if given the right tools and mentorship.

3. Incentivize Tech Startups and Incubators

Pakistan’s startup ecosystem saw a boom between 2020 and 2022, but funding has slowed recently due to global economic uncertainty. Still, the potential is enormous. Programs like National Incubation Center (NIC) and Ignite have shown promise in developing local talent and products.

The government must double down on:

  • Offering tax relief and seed funding for tech entrepreneurs
  • Creating local co-working spaces in second- and third-tier cities
  • Partnering with global accelerators like Y Combinator and Techstars
  • Allowing more flexibility in internet infrastructure and e-commerce regulations

Every successful startup creates jobs—and not just for engineers, but for marketers, writers, designers, and salespeople.

4. Public-Private Partnerships for Digital Skills

Companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are already offering free certifications through platforms like Grow with Google, Meta Blueprint, and LinkedIn Learning. The Pakistani government should partner with these tech giants to scale these programs across public universities and technical colleges.

Imagine TEVTA students graduating with a globally recognized Google IT Certificate or a Meta Digital Marketing credential. It instantly improves employability and opens up both local and remote job opportunities.

5. Exporting Tech Talent: A Brain Gain, Not a Brain Drain

Pakistan shouldn’t be afraid of exporting its talent abroad. In fact, countries like India and the Philippines have leveraged their overseas talent to build billion-dollar tech economies back home.

The government should facilitate:

  • Remote jobs in the international tech sector
  • Legal and safe pathways for tech-based migration
  • Policies that allow overseas Pakistanis to invest back into tech education and startups
  • A database of skilled Pakistani freelancers and developers for global recruiters

Done right, this turns a potential brain drain into a brain gain—as remittances, expertise, and international exposure feed back into the local economy.

A Glimmer of Hope: Signs of Progress

While the past few governments haven’t always prioritized tech-driven growth, there have been some bright spots. The DigiSkills.pk initiative, backed by the Ministry of IT, has trained over 3 million youth in digital skills, including freelancing and e-commerce. Similarly, E-Rozgar centers in Punjab and KP are offering free training and workspace for aspiring freelancers.

Pakistan’s IT exports crossed $2.6 billion in 2023, and the sector is growing at 15–20% annually. These numbers show there is demand for digital services globally—and Pakistani youth can meet that demand with the right support.

Conclusion: The Future is Tech, and the Time is Now

Pakistan’s youth are not a burden—they are the key to the country’s economic survival and revival. But to unlock this potential, there needs to be a national pivot toward technology. Not just in rhetoric, but in policy, infrastructure, education, and investment.

Imagine a Pakistan where a 19-year-old girl from Gilgit can code for a Canadian startup. Where a young man in Sukkur designs mobile apps for Silicon Valley companies. Where a freelancer in Quetta builds websites for Dubai-based businesses.

That future is not just possible—it’s within reach.

But it requires vision, coordination, and bold digital leadership.

Pakistan has the people. It has the potential. Now it just needs to plug into the future.

Why Schools Are the Foundation of a Tech-Driven Nation

Children in Class

In a world rapidly advancing through artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and the digital economy, the importance of schools in shaping a nation’s future cannot be overstated. Schools aren’t just buildings where kids go to memorize facts. They are the engines of innovation, the breeding grounds for leadership, and the foundation upon which a nation’s technological and economic future is built.

Let’s dive into why a nation’s journey to becoming tech-forward begins not in Silicon Valley or some high-end lab, but in the humble classrooms scattered across its towns and cities.

The School System: The First Line of Code in Nation-Building

Think of a nation as a complex piece of software. Just as great software depends on solid foundational code, a great nation depends on early education. Schools are where the first lines of that societal code are written.

From the moment a child enters school, they begin to absorb not just literacy and numeracy but values, discipline, collaboration, and critical thinking. These aren’t just academic skills—they are life skills, and more importantly, they are tech-enabling skills. Without a strong base in these areas, a child may struggle to adapt to an increasingly tech-centric world.

Early Learning: The Real “Startup” Stage

In tech circles, we talk a lot about startups and incubation stages. But education is the real startup phase of a person’s life. Children begin learning from the moment they are born, but formal education helps channel that raw learning potential into real-world applications.

Schools are where a child first learns problem-solving—a fundamental skill in technology. Whether it’s figuring out how to share toys or solve a math equation, these small experiences add up. By the time a student reaches higher education or vocational training, their mind is already wired for innovation—if their early schooling was effective.

Quality Education: A Privilege, Not a Right?

Now here’s where things get complicated.

While schools exist almost everywhere, quality education is not evenly distributed. In many parts of the world—including South Asia and Africa—elite schools are accessible only to a tiny percentage of the population. The rest are often left with under-resourced public schools, lacking both funding and updated curriculum.

In Pakistan, for instance, many top bureaucrats and leaders have foreign degrees, while the majority of civil service aspirants come from local institutions. There’s a clear disparity. It’s not just about who studies—it’s about where and how they study.

“Elite class education; only for the elite class.” — Waqas Gondal

This systemic imbalance becomes a bottleneck in technological advancement. When only a handful have access to advanced tools, labs, and modern teaching methods, the digital divide widens. As a result, innovation becomes the privilege of the few rather than the potential of the many.

The 21st-Century Curriculum Must Be Tech-Infused

For a nation to leap into the digital age, its curriculum needs to evolve with it. Many school systems still follow outdated syllabi that don’t reflect the modern world. Where are the coding classes? The AI literacy programs? The entrepreneurship modules?

Countries that prioritize integrating technology into early education are already ahead. Estonia, Finland, and Singapore have embraced digital literacy from primary school. Students there are taught coding alongside math and science—not as an elective, but as a necessity.

Why? Because coding is the new literacy. Data is the new oil. And schools are the new refineries.

Bridging the Gap with Technical Education

While academic schooling lays the foundation, technical and vocational education is the bridge to the future.

In Pakistan, the government has made strides through organizations like the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and the Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE). These institutions are training the workforce in skills like software development, AI, cloud computing, and digital marketing—skills that can dramatically uplift the economy.

The tech world needs not just developers and data scientists, but also skilled workers who can adapt to automation, manage IT infrastructure, and operate machinery with digital interfaces. This is where technical education can make a game-changing impact.

But again, accessibility is the issue. These programs need to scale and be made available to underprivileged communities if they are to truly empower the nation.

The Elephant in the Room: Budget Constraints

Here’s the harsh truth: education funding is often the first to get slashed and the last to be increased. Despite education being the backbone of progress, many governments allocate a small percentage of GDP toward it.

According to UNICEF, Pakistan spends around 2% of its GDP on education—a figure well below global recommendations. Compare that with countries like South Korea, which invests over 5% and has become a global tech powerhouse in just a few decades.

Investing in education isn’t a cost—it’s a down payment on a nation’s future prosperity.

Education and the Digital Economy

The world is shifting from an industrial economy to a digital one. In this economy, intellectual capital is more valuable than physical assets. Nations that empower their youth with digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are not just educating individuals—they’re investing in future CEOs, software engineers, tech entrepreneurs, and change-makers.

When schools embrace digital tools—like smart classrooms, e-learning platforms, AI tutors, and cloud collaboration—they don’t just prepare students for jobs. They prepare them to create jobs.

What Needs to Happen: Tech-Driven Education Reform

  1. Revamp the Curriculum: Add coding, robotics, data literacy, and design thinking from middle school onward. Focus on creativity and innovation.
  2. Teacher Training: Teachers need ongoing training in digital tools and emerging tech trends. They should be facilitators of learning, not just deliverers of content.
  3. Public-Private Partnerships: Tech companies can collaborate with governments to build labs, fund scholarships, and develop content that matches industry needs.
  4. Digital Inclusion: Equip rural and underprivileged schools with internet access, tablets, and e-learning software. Education must be a right, not a luxury.
  5. National EdTech Policy: A government-backed framework that ensures equal access to quality education through technology.

Hope on the Horizon: The EdTech Boom

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global adoption of EdTech platforms like Google Classroom, Khan Academy, and Coursera. In countries with tech-savvy populations, this shift has opened new opportunities for personalized and scalable learning.

EdTech is a billion-dollar industry, and developing countries are now catching up. With the right investment and policy support, tools like virtual labs, gamified learning, and AI tutors can revolutionize how we educate the next generation.

Pakistan, India, Nigeria, and others have a golden opportunity: leapfrog traditional barriers through technology. This isn’t about catching up anymore—it’s about redefining the future.

Final Thoughts: The Nation Starts in the Classroom

To build a strong, tech-savvy, economically vibrant nation, we need to start where it all begins—school.

Education isn’t just preparation for life; it is life. And in a world where the metaverse, blockchain, and AI are reshaping everything from how we work to how we think, nations can no longer afford to treat schooling as a second-tier issue.

Let’s reimagine education as a launchpad for innovation, inclusion, and economic empowerment.

Because the next great startup founder, CTO, or world leader is probably sitting in a classroom right now—waiting not just to be taught, but to be inspired.