Press release

British Council and P@SHA Join Hands to Advance Digital Employment Opportunities in Gilgit-Baltistan Under the EU-Funded TVET Sector Support Programme

DTC PRN · 4 November 2026

Gilgit Pakistan, November 3, 2026:

Under Team Europe's TVET Sector Support Programme, British Council, in partnership with the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), convened a roundtable on Industry Linkages and Graduate Employability at Serena Hotel, Gilgit. The roundtable brought together representatives from government, academia, the IT industry and development partners to strengthen collaboration between training institutions and employers and explore opportunities to improve employment prospects for young people, particularly women, in Gilgit-Baltistan. The roundtable featured two thematic sessions addressing the relationship between digital skills development, industry requirements and employment opportunities in Gilgit-Baltistan. A panel discussion brought together Sher Ali, Director, GB Technical Education and Skills Department; Mr Muhammad Zohaib Khan, Chair of Special Initiatives at P@SHA; Prof. Dr Abdul Razaq, Acting Vice Chancellor of Karakoram International University (KIU), Gilgit; Naeem Sardar Vice chairman GBSHA, Co founder Uconnect technologies and Mr Zameer Abbas, Secretary IT, Gilgit-Baltistan. The roundtable provided a platform for dialogue between public institutions, training providers and the private sector, supporting efforts to align skills development with emerging economic opportunities. Through the TVET Sector Support Programme, the European Union and its implementing partners continue to support Pakistan's efforts to strengthen the quality, relevance and inclusivity of technical and vocational education and training. By promoting closer collaboration between industry and training institutions, the programme seeks to improve pathways to sustainable employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for women and young people. Programme Background The TVET Sector Support Programme is a multi-year initiative funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the British Council and GIZ. The programme supports Pakistan's efforts to improve the relevance, quality and inclusivity of skills development, particularly in digital and high-growth sectors.