ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
Microsoft Pakistan has set yet another example of nurturing local talent from all corners of the country. The company, under its Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) initiative, has enrolled and trained over 50 students from remote regions of the country. These youngsters were trained through a 6-month long internship program, in Karachi and Lahore. The knowledge gained, will help them in developing new apps and enhance their entrepreneurial skills to produce outstanding works in the field of information technology and software development.
The MIC Karachi has already trained 22 of these talented students. Among them were; 6 students from BUITEMS – Quetta, 3 female students from Sardar Bahadur Khan–Quetta, and the rest came from University of Baluchistan. The 27 students trained at the MIC Lahore included; 4 students from Karakoram International University – Gilgit, 10 from University of Baluchistan-Quetta, 10 females from Sardar Bahadur Khan University – Quetta, 1 from Rahim Yar Khan, 1 from Peshawar and 1 from Faisalabad.
The selected students go through a crash course in a practical work environment, to help them learn App-development for Windows Store and Windows Phone. Around 30 high-quality Apps have already been published by these students, within 45 days of training. These include; Quran and Science, Medicine info, 4ex pk, Daily Lover’s Horoscope, You and Your Personality Test, and BalochiNebeshtaRahband. More apps are under development at the MICs.
Two of these youngsters – Ms. Maryam & Ms. Marzia, are studying in the final year of computer sciences in Quetta. They joined Microsoft Innovation Center to pursue their dream of becoming professional app-developers.
The DX Lead at Microsoft Pakistan – Tahir Masood stated that, “Talent has no boundaries! Any student can greatly benefit from the Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC), which provides world-class resources and support for students, entrepreneurs and startups, accelerating the creation of new companies, jobs and growth of the local software ecosystem.”
The Vice Chancellor of University of Balochistan, Prof. Dr. Javeid Iqbal commented that; ““I am glad to hear that the students from University of Balochistan are part of Microsoft Innovation Center’s internship program. Through Microsoft Platform, students from University of Balochistan will be able to explore their talent in development of I.T. Applications. By launching these applications in the market, the students can earn handsome returns and would contribute to the economy and society.”
I also congratulate organizers of this internship program for their efforts and support to students of University of Balochistan. He added.
Mr. Anwar Amjad, Director General – IT at Higher Education Commission said, “It is indeed the bounties of strategic collaboration between HEC & Microsoft that has ensured access to such programs to the people from all corners of the country; hence resulting in uplifting of skillset nationwide while ensuring students enjoy same benefits as others, irrespective of their geographical location.”