Overview
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled INSPIRE in Islamabad, calling semiconductors and AI strategically vital to Pakistan’s future.
- The Planning Ministry confirmed Rs4.5 billion in Public Sector Development Programme funding, with the prime minister assuring continued support.
- Phase one targets 7,200 trainees over five years in chip design, verification and research, with six Integrated Circuit labs to be set up nationwide.
- Officials said the program is structured to link universities, research bodies and industry under the stewardship of the IT ministry and PSEB.
- Leaders framed the effort as groundwork for future chip assembly, testing and fabrication, citing global projections of a $1 trillion market and a major skills shortfall by 2030.