University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board signed MoU for setting up of five incubation centers’ that would provide opportunity for 120 students to establish their own IT businesses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The agreement to remain effective for four years was signed by Vice Chancellor UoP Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan and Managing Director KP IT Board Abdul Majeed Niazi. Director Marketing KP IT Board Ms. Shehnaz Shamsher and Chairman Department of Computer Science Dr. Saeed Mehfooz were also present on the occasion.
Under the agreement IT board would provide equipment worth 3 million for establishment of state of the art Software house environment for students in Computer Science Department while around two million have been earmarked for resource persons and stipend to the trainee students.
Talking on the occasion MD IT board said the purpose of the initiative was to extend financial support to IT graduates and build on their skills so that they can start their own firms. He added that particularly female students would be benefitted from the project as most of them prefer to work in a software house located at the premises of the University of Peshawar.
UoP being the mother institution of KP is looking to enhance entrepreneurial, managerial and communication skills of youth of this region so that they may be empowered to compete at the national and international circuit, said Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan.
He called agreements like the one with KP IT board as a move towards filling the gap between theory and practical, hoping that it would lead to furthering economic growth of the province through influx of funds from within the country and abroad.
In the meanwhile Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board has also accepted University of Peshawar proposal for setting up of an IT park at varsity, which would lead to opening of new era in Information Technology for youth of the KP and FATA.
The Director planning and development UoP would submit a formal PC-1 to IT Board in this regard to materialize the project.