SARGODHA: E-Rozgar scheme has produced thousands of young entrepreneurs who have earned billions of rupees through online projects.

Addressing the launch ceremony of E-Rozgar training centre at the University of Sargodha (UoS) here on Saturday, Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Chairman Dr. Umar Saif said around 160 companies worth Rs7 billion had been established to tackle unemployment, enabling the educated youth to earn through online jobs and businesses under the project.

He said: “We are transforming our youth bulge into [youth] dividend by providing them with entrepreneurship and self-business opportunities through freelancing to contribute to the national economic development. This opportunity is for up to 22-year-old youth.”

He urged the youth to become entrepreneur as they could easily earn more than Rs100,000 per month through E-Rozgar.

“Pakistan is currently the third largest provider of freelancers after the USA and Ukraine in the world. A conservative estimate would put the number of online workers from Pakistan at 150,000 with an average annual income of approximately $10,000 each. This implies that freelancers in Pakistan earn combined revenue of over $1 billion. Currently estimated at approximately $1 trillion, the size of freelancing in the global economy is expected to rise substantially in the near future,” Mr Saif said.

University of Sargodha Vice Chancellor Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad said E-Rozgar would bring about revolutionary changes in the province to reduce unemployment rate in the country particularly in the remote areas like Mianwali and Bhakkar.

He told the audience that three E-Rozgar centres were working in collaboration with the administration of UoS.

Dr Ahmad said: “We started the reformation process to promote merit and to strengthen the university. We held six selection boards and five Syndicate meetings in short span of time in order to upset the status quo and certain stakeholders.”

PITB Director General (e-governance) Sajid Latif, Director Atif Mumtaz, in-charge E-Rozgar centre, the focal person and a number of students participated in the ceremony.

Dr Saif and Dr Ahmad distributed shields among the administration of the rozgar centre while many students were given certificates as well.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2018