PM orders overhaul of IT education after dismal skills test results

• Premier Shehbaz directs third-party audit of IT programmes in universities nationwide

• Says curricula must align with global industry and emerging technologies, calling for roadmap in AI, data science, robotics and advanced tech fields

• Stresses youth skills key to exports, investment and digital economy growth

• Only 0.4pc students score above 80pc in national competency test while 61pc participants fail to secure even 50pc marks, HEC data shows

 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performance of students in a nationwide skills competency test, directing a comprehensive review of information technology education in Pakistani universities along with a third-party audit of IT education and training programmes being offered across the country.

Chairing a high-level meeting on higher education in the IT sector, the prime minister said IT education and training in universities must be aligned with international market demands and emerging technologies, according to a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) news release.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding promotion of IT education in higher education institutions. Islamabad, 10 June 2026. pic.twitter.com/ZSybhe4EZt

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) June 10, 2026

“Young people must be equipped with skills that meet global industry requirements,” the prime minister said, adding that IT education in most universities was unfortunately not aligned with contemporary technological needs.

The meeting was briefed on the results of the National Skills Competency Test recently conducted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to evaluate the capabilities of IT graduates and assess whether university curricula were producing industry-relevant skills.

According to the briefing, 33,038 students from 190 higher education institutions across the country participated in the test, which was conducted under strict monitoring and transparent procedures at designated centres nationwide, the PMO said.

اسلام آباد: 10 جون 2026.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے ملکی جامعات میں آئی ٹی کے شعبے میں اعلی تعلیم کے حوالے سے اجلاس کی صدارت.

اجلاس سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ نوجوانوں کو ملکی جامعات میں آئی ٹی کے شعبے میں فراہم کی جانے والی تربیت بین الاقوامی مارکیٹ کے تقاضوں کے… pic.twitter.com/XqrhFOHyl9

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) June 10, 2026

The results highlighted significant gaps in students’ competencies. Only 0.4 per cent of participants secured more than 80 per cent marks, while 3.6 per cent scored between 68 and 79 per cent. Another 13.2 per cent obtained between 58 and 67 per cent marks, 21.3 per cent scored between 50 and 57 per cent, while a majority of 61 per cent failed to secure even 50 per cent marks.

Expressing concern over the outcome, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the results “unsatisfactory” and called for urgent reforms in higher education, particularly in the IT sector, to bridge the widening skills gap, the statement added.

He directed authorities to conduct a third-party audit of IT education and training programmes being offered by universities across Pakistan to identify gaps and recommend corrective measures.

The prime minister also instructed the preparation of a comprehensive roadmap, at the earliest, to equip students with advanced skills in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, robotics and other cutting-edge technologies.

Officials informed the meeting that reform efforts had already been initiated in light of the test results, with work underway to improve curricula, teaching standards and the industry relevance of IT programmes nationwide.

The prime minister stressed that Pakistan’s youth represented the country’s most valuable asset, adding that enhancing their technological capabilities was essential for boosting exports, attracting investment and strengthening the digital economy.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, HEC Chairman Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and senior officials from relevant institutions.