Muhammad Saleem

Pakistani youth need training and gadgets to capitalize on a wealth of opportunities unfolded by freelancing that is rapidly transforming businesses across the globe, reports WealthPK. Experts believe the laptop scheme – to be launched by the Punjab government, will help youth earn in a dignified way through freelancing, ultimately strengthening the national economy. The Punjab government has allocated Rs10 billion in the Federal Budget 2024-25 for the laptop scheme for students. Dr Ayesha of Government College University, Faisalabad, told WealthPK that the scheme would positively impact the educational and digital business prospects for young people. She said without access to digital devices like laptops, computers and cell phones, it's difficult to excel in the rapidly changing digital world. The laptop scheme can play a vital role in bridging the digital divide among students, she opined.

She said laptops would empower the students in multiple ways. Shedding light on the immediate benefits of the scheme, she said it would help youth exhibit their skills in the growing digital world and enable them to benefit from the wealth of research materials and resources. In addition, they can also learn different in-demand skills through free and paid online courses, she added. “We need a tech-savvy youth to enhance educational outcomes and navigate the emerging challenges of the digital world,” she said.Talking about the potential challenges that need to be addressed through the laptop scheme, Dr. Ayesha said it had been observed in the past that the quality of the laptops given to the students through the chief minister’s scheme was substandard. This time the government must ensure good quality laptops through a fair distribution. “It will also be a positive step if the government provides the students with the latest digital courses alongside laptops. Training programs for teachers and students should also be launched to cope with the emerging challenges of the digital age, she suggested.

She also suggested provision of free internet to the students, a crucial facility for freelancing, so that they could fully leverage the scheme’s benefits. Muhammad Rizwan, a software house owner, told WealthPK that Pakistani youth was struggling a lot to earn through freelancing; however, their limited access to essential gadgets like computers, laptops and the internet were shattering their dreams.He said the software houses in the past hired a good number of students, who polished their skills with the help of laptops given by Shahbaz Sharif-led government in Punjab. This time, he believes, the software houses are also expecting that the laptop scheme will again provide the much-needed boost to the information technology sector. Only skilled and polished people can contribute to the freelancing sector and achieve financial success while working remotely. He said following the government’s announcement about free laptop distribution, his company had devised a strategy to offer internship opportunities to the laptop holders.

Ali Hassan, an e-commerce specialist, said availability of laptops will significantly contribute to the growth of e-commerce. He said empowering young entrepreneurs was the way forward, as they were the future of Pakistan. He said launching an e-commerce website was not a difficult task, but maintaining it to attract customers was a tough job. He said only trained people knew how to optimize products to generate leads. Availability of laptops will help youth learn how to launch online stores, optimize databases, manage inventory and advertise products, he said. He said free laptops will also enable female students to enter the freelancing and e-commerce sector, exhibit their skills, and earn for their families while staying at home.

Credit: INP-WealthPk