ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has officially entered the global semiconductor industry with the launch of the INSPIRE program, designed to develop skilled professionals in semiconductor research, education, and industry.
Unveiled by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, INSPIRE is part of Pakistan’s National Semiconductor Initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and executed by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).
The initiative is poised to tap into the growing global semiconductor market, projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the program’s role in Pakistan’s digital transformation, emphasizing the importance of innovation, research, and skilled human capital for economic growth.
The government has allocated Rs 4.5 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to support INSPIRE, with a clear focus on preparing youth for future industries. The program aims to train 7,200 professionals in semiconductor design, verification, and research over the next five years.
INSPIRE marks the first phase of Pakistan’s National Semiconductor Development Roadmap, focusing on building a world-class ecosystem by linking academia, research, and industry. The program also includes partnerships with universities and the establishment of six Integrated Circuit (IC) labs across the country.
The initiative sets the stage for Pakistan’s involvement in Outsourced Assembly & Testing (OSAT) and semiconductor fabrication, positioning the country as a contributor to the global semiconductor supply chain.
