One of PSEB’s prime focuses is the growth of skilled human resource pool of the IT industry of Pakistan. In order to facilitate the IT Industry, PSEB has devised an open-door policy for the provision of financial subsidies, technical support and partnerships, not only for the IT companies, but also for the educational institutions of Pakistan, keeping in view its prime objective i.e. the development of future workforce. PSEB works with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to augment the influx of quality graduates into the industry. PSEB also facilitates the graduates as well as the IT companies by acting as a liaison point for the provision of quality graduates that match the companies’ requirements. PSEB provides ongoing training and industry-standard certifications to professionals, and undertakes research to benchmark IT professionals and graduates in the country. Industry HC Requirements The availability of skilled and competent IT professionals play a key role in any organization's decision to outsource business processes. It is a well-known fact that, in the long run, higher profitability and increased productivity ensures an organization's competitiveness; which, in turn, depends on skilled personnel. Please refer to the “IT Industry Review”, an HC study conducted by PSEB. The Projected Demand Over the last few of years, Pakistan’s IT sector has been growing at a remarkable rate. With an average growth of around 50% per annum, Pakistan’s global IT revenue is expected to reach approximately US $ 9 billion by the end of FY 2009-2010. Pakistan’s IT Sector IT graduates working with companies in ITPS exports and domestic business The public sector which includes the government, semi-government, and the defence forces Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP)-registered public and private-sector companies The IT faculty in the education sector IT SECTOR IT HC REQUIREMENTS    2005-06 2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  IT Industry HC (Exports) 10,000   15,000  22,500  33,750  50,625  IT Industry HC (Domestic) 25,000 33,250  44,223  58,816  78,225  Public Sector (Government, Semi--government and Defence) 25,000 27,500  30,250  33,275  36,603  SECP-registered Public and Private-sector Companies 25,000 27,500 30,250 33,275 36,603 Educational Sector 5,000 5,500 6,050 6,655 7,321 Total  90,000 108,750 133,273  165,771  209,376 IT Sector HC Requirements There is a significant requirement for high-end human resources by skills-set. Currently, Pakistan’s IT industry has 24,000 professionals; an additional 8,000 are needed within the next year. At present, the industry is receiving 1,600 graduates from Tier 1 institutes, and around 1,400 graduates from Tier 2 educational institutes. The industry needs at least an additional 5,000 graduates from similar Tier 1 institutes. The industry’s requirements can be met by inducting Tier 2 graduates in rigorous on-the-job training. The quality of Tier 2 institutes needs to improve so that their 20% low-end graduates can reach middle-of-the-road level. IT HC REQUIREMENTS (ACCORDING TO SKILLS SET)   2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10  IT HC (High-end) 24,000  31,005 42,247  58,224  83,117 IT HC (Middle-of-the-road) 34,000 40,250  48,223  57,013  70,842  IT HC (Low-end) 32,000 37,000 42,694  50,533  55,417   Total IT  HC  90,000 108,750 133,273  165,771  209,376  Description of Skills Matrix  Skills  Export Market Domestic Market Managers, Software Developers, Consultants and Integrators  High-end  Middle-of-the-road IT Services and IT-enabled Services  Middle-of-the-road  Low-end IT Personnel in the Private Sector other than the IT Industry, Government and related organizations and Academia  Not Applicable  High-end/Middle-of-the-road/Low-end IT HC Requirements (According to Skills-set) IT HC REQUIREMENTS   High-end Middle-of-the-road   Low-end  Export  80%  20%   0%  Domestic  20% 40%  40%  Others  20%  40% 40%  Description of Tier Matrix Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3  HEC-recognized premier educational institutes and universities, from which 80% graduates are considered high-end by the industry Producing approximately 2,000 graduates HEC-recognized public and private universities and degree-awarding institutes Producing approximately 7,000 graduates  HEC-recognized affiliated institutions of universities and degree-awarding institutes Producing approximately 11,000 graduates IT Graduates     IT GRADUATES (ACCORDING TO SKILLS- SET)  Educational Institutes  High-end Middle-of-the-road  Low-end   Tier 1   80%   20%     0%   Tier 2  20%  60%  20%  Tier 3  0%  20%  80% THE SUPPLY SIDE In order to sustain and improve growth, IT companies in Pakistan need around 232,000 working professionals by the end of FY 2009-2010. Currently, that number is a little above 50,000. Approximately 180,000 more professionals are needed in the next four years.

There is a common complaint among fresh IT graduates, and those in their last semesters, regarding the difficulty in securing a job best suited for their skills-set, immediately after their graduation. The complaint is a valid and serious one, as companies in Pakistan are reluctant to hire personnel with no previous working experience i.e. fresh graduates. Likewise, the local software industry, ITeS companies and IT departments of public and private sector organizations prefer human resources with experience in the same discipline.    

To resolve these issues, PSEB works as a proactive match-making liaison point between educational institutes and the IT industry, and helps the graduates/students in the provision of practical work experience. This project contributes to PSEB’s objectives of providing quality human resources to the industry. It aims to help the companies expand their operations by recruiting additional personnel, with a relatively lower financial burden on them.    

PSEB PROGRAMS

PSEB’s approach includes fresh graduates’ grooming via internships and apprenticeships; as well as training/certifications for professionals working in the industry.

1. IT Industry Apprenticeship Program
2. Corporate Training Program
3. IT Industry Internship Program

1. IT INDUSTRY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

Under the IT Industry Apprenticeship Program, PSEB offers financial subsidy for the companies to recruit graduates possessing the basic skills and knowledge in Information Technology and other related disciplines to provide IT/ITeS services.  These recruits are generally graduates with some experience.  These “apprentices” or trainees are hired by companies as full-time employees and put through a 12-month program, consisting of in-company training, on-the-job training and mentoring.

PSEB invites applications from interested IT companies to participate in its “IT Industry Apprenticeship Program”. Complete applications should reach the undersigned. Detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) are available at www.pseb.org.pk/tors

Achievements:

Since launch, the IT Industry Apprenticeship Program has been awarded to 7 companies, approved by PSEB and ICT R&D Fund’s Project Committee, which will result in the creation of over 700 job opportunities in the IT industry. The successful companies are as follows (in alphabetical order):

1. PSEB member IT companies /Software house, and IT department of public and private sector organization will be accommodated.
2. If there are no companies involved in IT, IT enabled services and IT departments of public and private sector organization then students will be brought to other nearby centers depending upon the requirements.

For Educational Institute:

1. Atleast 150 educational institute ,offering degrees in computer sciences, Information Technology, business administration, bio-sciences, health sciences, liberal arts and graphic designing will be selected from all major cities of Pakistan and not only limited to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
2. All institutes/ universities applying will be short listed to ensure maximum participation, however the priority will be given to HEC recognized institutes/ universities.

For Intern:

1. Fresh IT graduates /working on final degree project from HEC recognized educational institute can apply.
2. Candidate must have at least 16 years of education in the field of IT, CS, Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering.
3. Every institute/University will nominate its students based on their own evaluation criteria.
4. However the institutes will be instructed that preference should be given to students with following qualities:

• Top grade holders team player
• Sound technical knowledge

HOW TO APPLY

For IT Company:

1. Fill Company’s Application Form. Download  IT Company Application Form
2. Specify the number of interns needed along with tools and required skills
3. If you have participated in previous groom internship’s project you need to provide Internship Feedback along with Company Application Form. Download  IT Company Feedback Form

For Educational Institute:

All educational institutes who want to work as a partner of internship project for internships of their IT graduates need to fill and submit the application form to PSEB. Download University Application Form

For Intern:

1. Fill Intern’s Data Form. Download Intern Data Form
2. Make CV according to the required CV format.  Download CV Format
3. Take recommendation letter from your university in favor of PSEB internship project.
4. Attach supporting document according to documents check list. Download Documents Check list

Students all over the Pakistan can visit there nearby PSEB offices (Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore) for submission of documents and placement in IT companies.(Please check contact detail at end of Page)

NOTE: After successful completion of internship, Along with internship completion letter from IT Company, interns need to provide two feedback forms in order to get their stipend.

1. Intern’s Performance Evaluation Form. Download Intern Evaluation Form
   (To be filled by Intern’s supervisor/Mentor in IT Company)
2. Internship’s Evaluation Form. Download Internship Evaluation Form
   (To be filled by Intern about its internship’s Experience and learning)

Central Pakistan

Mian Irfan Amjad
Project Coordinator (Lahore)
Pakistan Software Export Board (G) Limited

5th Floor, Admin Block, Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex
Egerton Road Lahore
Tel: +92-42-9200015, 9200111, 9200110 Fax: +92-42- 6307827
Email: iamjad@pseb.org.pk

Interested companies can e-mail any queries to the undersigned.

Mr. Sulman Hassan
Project Director Industry HR
Pakistan Software Export Board (G) Limited
2nd Floor Evacuee Trust Complex
F-5, Aga Khan Road
Islamabad - 44000
Telephone: 92-51-9211125
Fax: 92-51-9204075
E-mail: shassan@pseb.org.pk