Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday launched the People’s Information Technology Programme (PITP-II) and the Google Digital Sahafat Scholarships Programme, reaffirming his government’s commitment to youth empowerment, digital innovation, and credible journalism.The MoU and agreement signing ceremony was held at CM House, attended by Senior Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon, Chairman HEC, Sindh Prof Tariq Rafi, Secretary IT Noor Samo, Vice Chancellors of NED University Dr Tufail, Mehran University Dr Tauha, Sukkur IBA Dr Asif Shaikh, Karachi University Dr Khalid Iraqi, VC Shaha Latif University CEO Tech Valley Umer Farooq, Google Asia head Paul Hutchings, CM spokesperson Nadir Gabol, Abdullah Baloch, DG Information dept Moiz Pirzada, KUJ President Tahir Hassan, and other dignitaries.Speaking at the ceremony, the chief minister said that Sindh was proud of the success of PITP-I, under which 13,565 students received world-class IT training, surpassing the original target. Over 4,300 graduates are now employed, while 300 Google Chromebooks were awarded to top-performing students. “The programme was not only about skills but also about inclusivity, with strong participation from women and students from rural Sindh,” he noted.
Building on that momentum, the Murad Shah announced the launch of PITP-II, with an allocation of Rs1.4 billion, aimed at training 35,000 students in 12 high-demand technologies. The training will be delivered through NED University Karachi, Mehran University Jamshoro, and Sukkur IBA University, leveraging their provincial outreach.To recognise merit, 1,750 Chromebooks will be awarded to outstanding trainees, representing five per cent of graduates. The eligibility criteria have also been broadened to include students from Matriculation, Intermediate, and Graduation levels across disciplines, with the age cap extended to 28 years.“PITP-II is not just training; it is a transformative leap that will cement Sindh’s leadership in inclusive, future-ready growth,” the CM said.Alongside PITP-II, Murad Shah also announced the launch of Digital Sahafat 2.0, under the Google News Initiative in collaboration with Tech Valley and the Government of Sindh. In its first phase, over 500 faculty members and media students were trained in digital reporting, fact-checking, verification, and AI-driven journalism.The new phase will provide 1,000 scholarships, equally divided among working journalists, government spokespersons, and media students from public universities. “This is not just about technology; it is about truth, accountability, and democracy. By equipping our journalists with digital tools, we strengthen transparency and public trust,” the CM emphasised.Murad Ali Shah extended gratitude to Google officials Paul Hutchings and Tim Paolini, Tech Valley’s Umer Farooq, Vice Chancellors of partner universities, and provincial secretaries, acknowledging their role in shaping these initiatives.The Sindh Cabinet had earlier approved PITP-II under a special provision of the SPPRA Act, 2009, allowing direct contracting with the three universities. The programme’s framework was cleared by the Steering Committee and backed by a Rs1.4 billion budget allocation in the provincial budget 2025-26.“With PITP-II and Digital Sahafat, Sindh is setting a new benchmark in digital innovation and journalism, investing in youth, and preparing our province for a knowledge-driven future,” Mr Shah concluded.Senior Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Mermon, Vice Chancellors of NED, Mehran, and IBA Sukkur, and CEO of Tech Valley Umer Farooq, as well as Google Asia head Paul Hutchings, also spoke. Secretary Information Noor Samo gave a detailed briefing to the chief minister on both the programs for which MOUs were signed.Senior Minister Information Sharjeel Memon said that the Google Digital Sahafat Scholarships Programme will help train the newsmen, and the issue of fake news will hopefully come to an end. At the conclusion of the ceremony, MOUs were signed, which Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon and others, witnessed.
