Google Career Certificates 2.0 Official Launch in Pakistan: Addressing the Digital Skills Gap and Empowering the Workforce

Fahd Haroon, Emphasized the Need for Courses on Business Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, and Cyber Security for Pakistani youth to Learn and become Part of the Global Workforce.

Google, in partnership with TechValley and the Institute of Rural Management (IRM), officially launched Google Career Certificates 2.0 in Pakistan at a prestigious event attended by key figures from the government and the IT sector. The event was graced by Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Syed Amin Ul Haque, Mr. Fahd Haroon, Minister of State/Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Public Communication and Digital Platforms, and Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, SAPM on Youth Affairs and Senior Google representatives from the region.

Mr. Fahd Haroon emphasized the need for training and skills development as priority areas, highlighting the significant gap in digital skills within the Pakistani workforce. He underscored the importance of digital skills in today's economy and called for a collaborative approach between stakeholders, including Google, TechValley, IRM, the government, and educational institutions, to advance Pakistan's digital workforce together.

Mr. Haroon expressed his gratitude to Google for creating 44,500 new scholarships, with a special emphasis on offering 50% of these scholarships to the female population in the country. He also acknowledged Google's commitment to Pakistan's digital growth by launching three new courses - Business Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, and Cyber Security.

Farhan Qureshi, Country Director, Google Pakistan, said, "We are proud to introduce digital skills along with soft skills courses for Pakistani talent to rise into this new world of technology, with a particular focus on women and youth."

Pakistan has a working-age population of approximately 85.75 million, with a significant portion of the population under the age of 30. This young and growing workforce requires access to quality education and training opportunities to realize their potential and contribute to the country's economic development.

Google Career Certificates 2.0, a program designed to make (aspiring) professionals job-ready in six months, was introduced at the event. The program aims to provide targeted skills training to help participants rapidly qualify for in-demand jobs. Industry experts and thought leaders also attended the launch, discussing strategies and initiatives for advancing Pakistan's digital economy collectively.

During the event, Google presented various case studies and shared success stories of recently graduated professionals from the Google Career Certificate program in Pakistan. The program has already made a significant impact on the lives of many Pakistani professionals, equipping them with the necessary digital skills to excel in their careers and contribute to the country's digital economy.

The Google Career Certificates 2.0 program is a testament to the importance of addressing the digital skills gap in Pakistan and empowering the workforce with the right tools and training. With the continued support of key stakeholders and the government, this program aims to create a brighter future for Pakistan's digital workforce and economy.

The Future of Jobs Report 2023 shows that cognitive skills and management skills are the most critical skills required by the workforce, with 25% and 19% of organizations ranking them as essential, respectively. Other critical skills include technical skills, attitudes, and working with others, with 18%, 15%, and 9% of organizations ranking them as essential, respectively. The Report also shows that the skills required for reskilling focus on creative thinking, AI and big data, leadership and social influence, design and user experience, and analytical thinking, among others.

For more information on the Google Career Certificates 2.0 program, visit https://grow.google/intl/en_pk/certificates/

Pakistan and UAE Discuss Food Security Initiatives for Vulnerable Populations

Pakistan and UAE Discuss Food Security Initiatives for Vulnerable Populations

Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Public Communication and Digital Platforms, Fahd Haroon, meets with UAE Consul General in Karachi, H.E. Bakheet Al Romaithi to discuss the importance of public communication and UAE's food program for Pakistan.

 

The Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Public Communication and Digital Platforms, Fahd Haroon, met with H.E. Bakheet Al Romaithi, United Arab Emirates Consul General in Karachi. They both discussed the importance of public communication in raising awareness about food security and the impacts of climate change. The meeting centered around the UAE food program for Pakistan, initiated by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting, Mr. Haroon also informed a visiting media delegation from the UAE about the initiatives taken by Pakistan, particularly in the Sindh province, to combat food insecurity. The Consul General expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between the government of Sindh and UAE on the ‘Emirates Humanitarian’ medical campaign in Pakistan's southern Sindh province to provide health facilities to the poor.

 

Pakistan and UAE have a long history of friendly relations, with the UAE serving as a trusted ally for Pakistan. The UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE-PAP) reflects His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's love for the people of Pakistan. The program has provided assistance in various social and humanitarian fields, including health, poverty alleviation, education, and disaster relief.

 

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Acute Malnutrition analysis, acute malnutrition is at a Critical level in eight districts in Sindh and at a Serious level in one district. The UAE's food assistance program aims to address this pressing issue. As per the data, the overall malnutrition prevalence in Pakistan is 38.3%, with 17.7 million stunted and 9.7 million wasted children under five years of age.

 

In the past, UAE has executed several humanitarian assistance programs in Pakistan, including the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign, which vaccinated over 86 million Pakistani children under the age of five between 2014 and December 2020. UAE's assistance in the healthcare sector has helped Pakistan combat various diseases and increase life expectancy.

 

Pakistan and the UAE share a strong trade relationship with a significant Pakistani population residing in the UAE. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan received $531.4 million in remittances from the UAE in 2022. The UAE is Pakistan's biggest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa region, with exports from the UAE to Pakistan amounting to $7.13 billion in 2021. The main products exported from the UAE to Pakistan were refined petroleum, crude petroleum, and scrap iron. During the last 18 years, exports of the UAE to Pakistan have increased at an annualized rate of 9.57%, from $1.38 billion in 2003 to $7.13 billion in 2021.

Pakistan exported $1.28 billion worth of products to the UAE in 2021, with refined petroleum, bovine meat, and rice being the primary products. The exports of Pakistan to the UAE have increased at an annualized rate of 0.74%, from $1.12 billion in 2003 to $1.28 billion in 2021.

 

The meeting between Mr. Haroon and the Consul General reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and UAE to address food insecurity and improve the well-being of vulnerable populations. The UAE's food assistance program, along with Pakistan's initiatives in the Sindh province, will help address the issue of malnutrition in Pakistan.

Fahd Haroon, Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan Discusses Public Communication & Digital Engagement for Allied Healthcare Workers' Training at Cordoba Care Institute of Health Management.

Healthcare and digital skills development for training quality allied healthcare resources and engagement via digital platforms for knowledge enhancement of healthcare professionals are crucial for improving the provision of healthcare services across Pakistan.

Karachi, PK - 19th April 2023 - Mr. Fahd Haroon, Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Public Communication and Digital Platforms, attended an Iftar dinner organized by Cordoba Care Institute of Health Management in Karachi. The dinner was attended by leading medical professionals, educationists, members of civil society organizations, and top corporate and media representatives.

Fahd Haroon Discusses Public Communication and Digital Platforms for Healthcare Workers' Training with Malik Ahmad Jalal, CEO and Founder of Cordoba Care Institute in Karachi.

During the event, Mr. Fahd Haroon spoke about the importance of public communication and tech skills development via digital platforms in healthcare, especially with reference to the need for human resource training for quality healthcare professionals. He emphasized that these professionals are required in Pakistan to uplift the local healthcare system and have great potential export demand in the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

Pakistan's Health Workforce

He highlighted that the Government of Pakistan is working on making healthcare services available through digital platforms and means and that in this regard the public communication ecosystem will play an important role in creating awareness and behavior change for the usage of digital healthcare services for the greater good and well-being of society.

Mr. Fahd Haroon also emphasized the significance of international digital platforms in offering substantial learning and knowledge resources for healthcare professionals, providing an ideal mode for disseminating effective healthcare training. He focused on the importance of healthcare professionals keeping themselves updated with the latest trends and developments in healthcare and medicine through not only physical but also tech platforms. Moreover, he highlighted the crucial role of public communication in identifying and addressing the health challenges faced by citizens in their respective communities.

Mr. Malik Ahmad Jalal, CEO & Founder of the Cordoba Care Institute of Health Management (CCI), said, "We are honored to have Mr. Haroon join us to celebrate the achievements of Cordoba Care Institute in the field of healthcare training. CCI strives to provide quality healthcare services through training and capacity building of the healthcare professionals, particularly from underserved communities”.

Pakistan National Health Infrastructure

He said, “Pakistan faces an acute shortage of 600,000 medical technicians or 1/9th of our need as per the World Health Organization standards. Cordoba Care Institute’s mission is to improve public health through practical and soft skills focused training of nursing and allied healthcare professionals.” He said, “CCI actively works on job placement, and career counseling and has an over 90% job placement rate of its graduates, who secure salaries between PKR 23,000 to PKR 33,000 per month for their technical competence and soft skills training.” He further added, “We believe that digital healthcare and skills development initiatives are critical for improving the quality of healthcare services in Pakistan and beyond as they serve to showcase our homegrown talent and skills."

Fahd Haroon, Minister of State and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Public Communication and Digital Platforms with Malik Ahmad Jalal, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Cordoba Care Institute along with his Team in Karachi.

It is essential to note that Pakistan is prioritizing the strengthening of the health sector, especially after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is making progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing). Pakistan's healthcare system is facing a dearth of healthcare professionals, particularly in the fields of nursing and allied healthcare. Although the Lady Health Workers (LHW) program has been revitalized through adequate training, support, and a revised service structure, which has improved effective coverage of skilled birth attendants, pre, and post-pregnancy care, and neonatal care, the need for trained professionals is still needed in the peri-urban and rural areas of Pakistan.

Pakistan has been making efforts to achieve health-relevant SDGs. However, progress has been slow due to a lack of resources, infrastructure, and skilled human resources. The government has made skills development initiatives a priority to ensure that the demand for public health service delivery is met with quality and quantity both.

There is a need for the government and private sector to collaborate to improve healthcare services and ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all. The use of digital platforms and public communication can play a vital role in creating awareness of the need for quality allied health resources and improving behavior-change of patients and care providers. The Cordoba Care Institute provides quality demand-driven curriculum taught with innovative methodologies to achieve these goals.