As of 2019, there were 35,000 Pakistan-born STEM workers in the United States, according to the American Immigration Council. They included information technologists, software developers, engineers and scientists. These figures do not include medical doctors and healthcare workers.
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| Foreign-Born STEM Workers in America. Source: American Immigration Council |
Foreign-born workers make up a growing share of America's STEM workforce. As of 2019, foreign-born workers made up almost a quarter of all STEM workers in the country. This is a significant increase from 2000, when just 16.4% of the country’s STEM workforce was foreign-born. Between 2000 and 2019, the overall number of STEM workers in the United States increased by 44.5 percent, from 7.5 million to more than 10.8 million, according to American Immigration Council.
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| India and Pakistan Among Top 10 Countries Receiving US Immigrant Visas. Source: Visual Capitalist |
India topped the top 10 list of foreign-born STEM workers with 721,000, followed by China (273,000), Mexico (119,000), Vietnam (100,000), Philippines (87,000), South Korea (64,000), Canada (56,000), Taiwan (53,000), Russia (45,000) and Pakistan (35,000). Enormous number of Indian STEM workers in the United States can at least partly be attributed to the fact that India's "body shops" have mastered the art of gaming the US temporary work visa system. Last year, Indian nationals sponsored by "body shops" like Cognizant, Infosys and TCS received 166,384 H1B visas for work in the United States. By comparison, only 1,107 Pakistanis were granted H1B visas in Fiscal Year 2022. In addition to H1B work visas, 9,300 Indian nationals and 7,200 Pakistani nationals received immigrant visas to settle in the United States as permanent residents in 2021.
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In addition to 35,000 Pakistan-born STEM workers, there were 12,454 Pakistan-born and Pakistan-trained medical doctors practicing in the United States, making the South Asian nation the second largest source of medical doctors in America. Pakistan produced 157,102 STEM graduates last year, putting it among the world's top dozen or so countries. About 43,000 of these graduates are in information technology (IT).
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| H1B Visas Issued in Pakistan. Source: Visagrader.com |
Every year, applicants sponsored by Indian body shops claim the lion's share of H1B visas. In 2022, Indians received 166,384 new H1B visas, accounting for nearly three quarters of all such visas issued by the US government. The figures reported as India IT exports are in fact the wages earned by millions of Indian H1B workers in the United States.
Related Links:
2021: A Banner Year For Tech Startups in Pakistan
Pakistan Projected to Be World's 6th Largest Economy By 2075
Fintech Revolution in Pakistan
Growing Share of Working Age Population in Pakistan
Pakistan Scientific Output is World's Fastest Growing
India's Chandrayaan 3 Success: Can Pakistanis Explore Space?
Digital Pakistan 2022
Pakistan's Large and Growing Civil Nuclear Program
Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel
30 comments:
Usually people put a hard cutoff at 5 to define a top position, but whatever floats your boat.
Then why do we have G20?
Even G7 is more than 5
If we freeze only at Top five then Indian dream of getting into UNSC is permanently closed.
Oh damn that is shockingly low. I was expecting it to be more.
Taiwan, Vietnam, Phillipines are ahead of us even.
Most of our workforce in NA is with the medical field I believe, or self business, not STEM.
Jang: "Taiwan, Vietnam, Phillipines are ahead of us even"
There are a lot more Filipinos, Taiwanese and Vietnamese immigrants in the US than Pakistanis.
The largest countries of origin for Asian immigrants in the United States are:
India (2.7 million, or 19%)
China, including Hong Kong (2.5 million, 18%)
The Philippines (2 million, 15%)
Vietnam (1.4 million, 10%)
South Korea and North Korea (1 million, 7%)
There are less than half a million foreign-born Pakistanis in the US.
Besides, Indians dominate the H1B worker population in the US.
"Enormous number of Indian STEM workers in the United States can at least partly be attributed to the fact that India's 'body shops' have mastered the art of gaming the US temporary work visa system. Last year, Indian nationals sponsored by 'body shops' like Cognizant, Infosys and TCS received 166,384 H1B visas for work in the United States. By comparison, only 1,107 Pakistanis were granted H1B visas in Fiscal Year 2022."
Am I sensing some bitterness and "sour grapes" here? :)
During my stint in the IT industry, I happened to work in one of these "body shops" (TCS, to be precise) and the local Indian "body shop" subsidiary of an MNC (IBM). From my limited experience in the industry (I never went for any "on-site assignments" in US or elsewhere), most of us "techies" working in these "body shops" here weren't doing any cutting edge stuff, but merely back office work - maintaining their internal systems, creating some web portals etc., so much so that most of us (including myself) could be called nothing more than "software coolies".
And I do believe that the governmental policy here of encouraging IT parks and "body shops" at the expense of manufacturing and hardware (especially the electronics and semi-conductor manufacturing) is the primary reason why India has no counterparts to Chinese tech giants like Huawei, Xiaomi etc and has to import much of its electronics goods from that country. (This is in stark contrast to the automotive sector where many Indian brands like Tata, Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Bajaj, TVS, Hero and Royal Enfield have been spreading their wings.)
That said, I do have to give credit to these Indian "body shops" in doing its part from saving the country from an economic crisis of the kind Pakistan is facing now. Though the country did not become another China, it saved itself from becoming another Pakistan.
The primary weakness I have seen with Indian IT firms (which are aptly "body shops") is that they look for quick bucks by seeking outsourced routine work, and haven't invested enough in "innovation" or R&D of products. When I did happen to work in a team that was developing a product for bulk testing of mobile apps, the management seemed directionless and clueless and the team lacking motivation - with the predictable result that the product did not win any customers and wrapped up after a few years. To be fair, Indian IT firms like TCS, Infosys and Cognizant have given jobs to hundreds of thousands of engineering graduates in India, and have indirectly created employment for even more through other supporting industries. But they don't have any innovations, products or brand identity to boast of even after three decades in business.
It isn't that the outsourcing model is bad. After all, China wouldn't have become the economic powerhouse it is now had not Western firms invested in Chinese SEZs in the '80s and '90s to outsource their manufacturing to cheap Chinese labour. And for long Chinese brands that grew out of such outsourced manufacturing were ridiculed as "copy cats" for creating cheaper products that mimicked its Western counterparts without the quality. But look at them now!
India's own automotive companies started out by manufacturing cheaper licensed copies of foreign models. But these days they do in-house design and manufacturing of motorcycles, cars and commercial vehicles for domestic market and exports. On the other hand, in their quest for easy money Indian IT firms failed to invest enough in R&D and product development.
Dear Sir
Thanks for sharing this , Sir Mexico is ranked at no.3 in this list . Sir how good are Mexicans in studies specially in the field of science and technology ?
Do Mexican students perform good in the universities of America ?
Thanks
Dear Mr. Vineeth
Thanks for your post , sir I wanted to know that in the last 2 decades has any IT company in India produced or developed any softwares like games and cell phone apps that are world famous or are known in the world ?
Thanks
Ahmed: "Sir Mexico is ranked at no.3 in this list . Sir how good are Mexicans in studies specially in the field of science and technology?"
It probably has more to do with numbers.
Besides, Mexico is a member of OECD, an organization of rich industrialized nations.
It's also a member of NAFTA, North America Free Trade Agreement. Other two NAFTA members are US and Canada.
Mexico's GDP per capita in purchasing power parity (PPP) was estimated at $22,216 in 2022.
Mexicans represent the largest group of immigrants living in the United States. That’s been true since 1980, according to the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. And the Mexico-US route is the largest migration corridor in the world.
But the total number of Mexican immigrants living in the US has been on the decline for more than a decade.
An estimated 10.7 million Mexican immigrants lived in the US in 2021, roughly 1 million fewer than the number a decade earlier.
Core Banking Products
Infosys:Finacle(Every major Indian bank runs on this except SBI)
TCS:Bancs
There are half a dozen others though less successful.
Dear Sir
I hope you are doing well , have an important question . Sir don’t you think that Isreal has actually outperformed India to a much greater extent and in a far better way in the progress of Science , technology and IT ? We see that most of the innovative work and inventions in the field of IT and other technologies are actually coming from Isreal . They have a very strong R& D sector where lot of research work takes place specially by their university professors and PHD students unlike in India .
Sir is it true that India receives far more investments and financial support from America , UK and from other financial institutions as compared to Isreal ? Inspite of this India couldn’t achieve what Isreal has achieved .
Latest US Census Data Released in 2023
https://data.census.gov/table/ACSSPP1Y2022.S0201?q=S0201:+Selected+Population+Profile+in+the+United+States&t=-02:-04:070:Ancestry:Income+and+Poverty
Pakistani-Americans Median Household Earning: $106,281, Mean Earnings: $149,178
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White Americans: Median household Income $78,636 Mean Earnings $112,415
African Americans : $52,238 $76,888
American Indian Alaska Native $61,778 $85,838
Asian Indian $152,341 $197,732
Bangladeshi $80,288 $116,500
Chinese $101,738 $160,049
Taiwanese $122,952 $180,906
Filipino $109,090 $122,635
Pakistanis $106,286 $149,178
Nepal $92,262 $120,146
Asians $104,646 $149,363
Social Realities of Indian Americans: Results From the 2020 Indian American Attitudes Survey - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/06/09/social-realities-of-indian-americans-results-from-2020-indian-american-attitudes-survey-pub-84667
Thirty percent of non-citizen IAAS respondents possess a green card (or a permanent residency card), which places them on a pathway to gaining U.S. citizenship. Twenty-seven percent are H-1B visa holders, a visa status for high-skilled or specialty workers in the United States that has historically been dominated by the technology sector. On average, an H-1B visa holder reports living in the United States for eight years, although 36 percent of H-1B beneficiaries report spending more than a decade in the country (that is, they arrived before 2010). Eighteen percent of non-citizens reside in the United States on an H-4 visa, a category for immediate family members of H-1B visa holders. Fourteen percent of non-citizens are on F-1, J-1, or M-1 visas—categories of student or scholar visas—while another 5 percent hold an L-1 visa, a designation available to employees of an international company with offices in the United States. A small minority of non-citizen respondents—6 percent—claim some other visa status.
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The overwhelming majority of Hindus with a caste identity—more than eight in ten—self-identify as belonging to the category of General or upper caste.
US records 16% increase in admission of Pakistani students
In the past two years, an overall 33% increase has been noted
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1129600-us-records-16-increase-in-admission-of-pakistani-students
A United States Department of State report recorded a 16% increase in the admission of Pakistani students to universities across the country.
The annual Open Doors Report for 2022-23 report, prepared in collaboration with the Institute of International Education (IIE), highlighted a substantial increase in the number of students from Pakistan studying in higher education institutions in the US.
"During 2022-2023, there were 10,164 Pakistani students, compared to 8,772 in the previous year, indicating an impressive 16% increase," the report read.
It also underscores the continued prominence of the US as the top destination for international study in the 2022-2023 academic year. Notably, the data reveals a significant milestone, with the US hosting over one million (1,057,188) international students during this period, marking a remarkable 12% increase from the previous academic year and representing the fastest growth rate in over four decades.
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International students in the U.S., by country of origin 2022/23 | Statista
10,164 students from Pakistan studying in America, ranking the country the 16th largest source of international students in the US
https://www.statista.com/statistics/233880/international-students-in-the-us-by-country-of-origin/
The fastest-growing countries for software development - Rest of World
https://restofworld.org/2024/github-developer-bangladesh-nigeria-pakistan/
GitHub has released new data tracking developer accounts by country.
Year over year, the data shows Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Pakistan had the fastest-growing developer population.
For developers around the world, a busy GitHub profile is one of the best ways to land a programming job. The platform is one of the largest hubs for software development globally, split between public repositories (or repos) used for open-source collaboration and closed repos open only to project participants.
But while GitHub has long been used to assess individual programmers, the platform’s data also shows the developer contributions of every country on Earth, painting an interesting picture of which nations are rising the fastest. GitHub releases the data quarterly as part of a project it calls the Innovation Graph, with the most recent batch of data released on January 18.
For some countries, the data shows a surprising jump in the number of developers over just the past year. In the three months leading up to September 2023, there were 945,696 Bangladeshi developers on GitHub. During the same period in 2022, there were only 568,145 developers in the country with accounts, making for a year-over-year jump of nearly two-thirds. It’s the largest proportional increase for any country in the world.
Like any data set, it comes with limitations: This data only measures registered accounts, rather than code commits, so it's more heavily skewed to less active contributors.
Even GitHub itself is only a fraction of the software development happening in a given country. But the data shows a rising tide of programming in countries long ignored by much of the Western tech industry.
The fastest-growing countries for software development - Rest of World
https://restofworld.org/2024/github-developer-bangladesh-nigeria-pakistan/
GitHub has released new data tracking developer accounts by country.
Year over year, the data shows Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Pakistan had the fastest-growing developer population.
For developers around the world, a busy GitHub profile is one of the best ways to land a programming job. The platform is one of the largest hubs for software development globally, split between public repositories (or repos) used for open-source collaboration and closed repos open only to project participants.
But while GitHub has long been used to assess individual programmers, the platform’s data also shows the developer contributions of every country on Earth, painting an interesting picture of which nations are rising the fastest. GitHub releases the data quarterly as part of a project it calls the Innovation Graph, with the most recent batch of data released on January 18.
For some countries, the data shows a surprising jump in the number of developers over just the past year. In the three months leading up to September 2023, there were 945,696 Bangladeshi developers on GitHub. During the same period in 2022, there were only 568,145 developers in the country with accounts, making for a year-over-year jump of nearly two-thirds. It’s the largest proportional increase for any country in the world.
Like any data set, it comes with limitations: This data only measures registered accounts, rather than code commits, so it's more heavily skewed to less active contributors.
Even GitHub itself is only a fraction of the software development happening in a given country. But the data shows a rising tide of programming in countries long ignored by much of the Western tech industry.
The establishment of the National Center for Quantum Computing could be a critical step – if Pakistan can overcome economic constraints and a significant brain drain.
By Zohaib Altaf and Nimrah Javed
June 27, 2024
https://thediplomat.com/2024/06/pakistans-quantum-quest-hurdles-and-hopes/
Pakistan is poised to make significant strides in the field of quantum technology with the establishment of its National Center for Quantum Computing, as announced by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal. This initiative marks a critical step toward overcoming the global quantum divide – if Pakistan can overcome the associated challenges, including economic constraints and a significant brain drain.
Globally, the quantum technology market is expected to burgeon, reaching an estimated $106 billion by 2040. This growth is fueled by robust investments, with private investors pouring $1.5 billion into quantum startups in 2023 alone. Public sector investment has also been significant, surpassing $38 billion globally. The United States, European Union, and Canada collectively committed over $3 billion in 2022. China leads the way with a staggering $15.3 billion total investment.
Despite these global advancements, a significant quantum divideexists, as the majority of countries lack national quantum initiatives. This divide creates substantial disparities in technological capabilities and economic opportunities. Countries without robust quantum technology infrastructures are at risk of falling behind, facing increased cyber vulnerabilities, and struggling to compete in the global economy.
For Pakistan, this divide is particularly concerning. Kaspersky Lab has ranked Pakistan among the most unprotected countriesin terms of cybersecurity, highlighting the urgent need for improved defenses as countries venture into the quantum technology domain.
India’s ambitious quantum initiatives further underscore the challenges facing Pakistan. India’s investment in quantum technology not only bolsters its technological capabilities but also poses a strategic challenge to Pakistan. India has also announced its National Quantum Mission, investing approximately $740 million over eight years. In addition, India is also cooperating with the United States, Australia, and Russia on quantum technology, forging strategic partnerships to enhance its capabilities and position in the global quantum landscape.
The Indian Army’s emphasis on integrating quantum computinginto its defense systems highlights the potential for a significant shift in the regional balance of power. Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir has acknowledged these developments, emphasizing the importance of Pakistan’s investment in quantum computingto maintain its strategic equilibrium.
However, Pakistan’s efforts to establish a successful quantum initiative are hindered by several challenges. The most pressing issue is the ongoing brain drain. From 1971 to 2022, over 6 million highly qualified and skilled professionals emigrated from Pakistan, including doctors, engineers, and IT experts. In 2022 alone, 92,000 highly educated professionals left the country, with nearly 200,000 people emigrating in the first three months of 2023. This trend poses a substantial challenge to Pakistan’s efforts to build and sustain a robust quantum technology sector.
In a country where illiteracy rates are high and educational standards are low, the mass exodus of young and educated professionals is particularly troubling. According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, 67 percent of Pakistani youths want to leave the country. This statistic underscores the difficulty of retaining talent and bringing back professionals from abroad to work on quantum initiatives. The challenge is further compounded by Pakistan’s economic situation. The country is currently under an IMF program, which imposes stringent financial constraints and increases the risks associated with investing in high-cost technologies like quantum computing.
Government to establish 10 IT parks by next year: IT Ministry - Pakistan - Business Recorder
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40304707
The government has announced the establishment of ten new Software Technology Parks across the country by next year, according to Radio Pakistan.
This was stated during a briefing by the Ministry of Information Technology to a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.
The meeting was informed that 100 new e-employment centers will also be set up in the country by next year.
The project of Islamabad IT Park will be completed next year with the cooperation of South Korea. It will provide startups, incubation centers, banks, restaurants, and other facilities.
The meeting was informed that South Korea is also collaborating in establishing an information technology park project near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi which will be completed by 2027.
So far, 43 software technology parks have been established in 29 cities of the country.
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Tech parks for growth
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1177295-tech-parks-for-growth
In today’s fast-paced global economy, technology parks play a crucial role in fostering industrial development by providing an ecosystem conducive to innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship.
These designated areas are often referred to as research and technology parks or science parks. They can serve as catalysts for economic growth, driving technological advancements, attracting investment, and nurturing talent. By bringing together academia, industry, and government, these parks facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange, leading to breakthrough discoveries and technological advancements.
They are often located within or near universities so that they have ready access to highly trained workers in various fields. In Pakistan, I was involved in establishing a technology park in the National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad as well as setting up several software technology parks in early 2001 in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. More recently, an excellent technology park was established under my supervision within the Pak-Austria Fachhochschule (University of Applied Science and Engineering) in Haripur, Hazara.
Technology parks play a crucial role in enhancing the competitiveness of industries by providing access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, specialized facilities, and cutting-edge equipment. Companies located within technology parks benefit from shared resources such as research laboratories, testing facilities, and prototyping centres, enabling them to accelerate the development and commercialization of new products.
Moreover, the clustering effect of technology parks encourages the formation of industry clusters, where companies operating in related sectors can collaborate, share best practices, and access a pool of skilled talent.
Coursera celebrates AI Appreciation Day
https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/coursera-celebrates-ai-appreciation-day-pdrcydqf
Learners in emerging markets, including India, Egypt, Pakistan, and Brazil, make up more than half (52%) of GenAI enrollments on Coursera as the learning platform is bridging the opportunity gap by expanding AI-powered translations to include more than 4,600 courses and 55 Professional Certificates in up to 21 popular languages, including Arabic, Hindi, and Spanish.
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HEC Pakistan success story | Coursera
https://www.coursera.org/enterprise/resources/casestudy/hec
Paving the way for Pakistan’s digital knowledge economy
Through a successful and transformative partnership with Coursera, HEC has ushered in a wave of impactful education, breaking barriers and shaping the educational landscape in Pakistan.
Access to quality education:
200+ universities gained access to Coursera’s library of courses, including COMSATS University Islamabad and University of Central Punjab.
Over 267,000+ courses completed with students logging over 1.4 million learning hours.
More than 45,000 learners achieved deep-skills specialized certifications from internationally recognized institutions, the most popular specializations being Communication, Data Analysis, and Leadership and Management.
Enhanced teaching through curriculum integration:
Faculty enhanced their curriculum by integrating Coursera content into projects and materials.
Students applied their newfound expertise, translating it into freelancing opportunities.
Profound learner satisfaction:
HEC conducted a learner survey which garnered 10,000 responses:
96% of respondents credited Coursera for enriching skills development, with steep trajectories in digital literacy.
99% expressed a desire to continue expanding their learning.
Over 60% received tangible career incentives, such as recognition or advancements, through Coursera courses.
“We’ve encountered our top Coursera learners leveraging their skills for success,” Tanveer continues. HEC’s survey encapsulates this notion, with 47% of freelancers saying Coursera courses helped to increase their earnings. “These individuals, based in Pakistan, capitalize on learned skills, securing freelancing opportunities and projects, earning in US dollars due to their global online presence.” Maqadas Manzoor, a learner who benefitted from HEC’s support, attests to Coursera’s positive influence on his freelance career. “Enrolling in Coursera has been a transformative experience for me. I enrolled in IBM’s full stack cloud computing course and got my certificate, which gained me valuable knowledge. I have since acquired projects from a cloud computing and web application services company.” This partnership between HEC and Coursera helped introduce flexible, specialized online education tailored to Pakistan’s needs, bringing world-class learning within reach across demographics. As Dr. Jamil, Member IT at HEC, attests, “Our initiative with Coursera ensures that Pakistani youth gain industry-ready skills affordably and at scale. The positive response from students indicates that we are on track to achieve HEC’s goals.” HEC credits Coursera for enabling it to deliver meaningful change on a national scale – one learner at a time.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1095301-pakistan-among-top-4-countries-in-stem-enrolment
Even though Pakistan’s global ranking is dismal, it has shown a 79 per cent year-on-year growth in enrolment, becoming the fourth country globally (out of 100) with the highest STEM enrolments. Enrolment count from Pakistan stands at 642,562 – behind Nigeria (675,371), the US (4,639,771) and India (6,000,967).
Speaking to The News, Deputy Chief of USAID Higher Education System Strengthening Activity Dr Ayesha Razzaque, discusses the reasons behind the shift towards distant learning among Pakistanis, “skills are the new currency in the job market. [In Pakistan], four-year curricula are neither updated frequently enough nor corresponding degrees/transcripts do a good job of communicating what the graduate is able to do.”
She adds that across the world, “there is a shift towards acquiring micro-credentials instead on top of an undergraduate degree. So, instead of enrolling in a long-term programme, one could enroll in a shorter certificate program and get only the necessary skills. Our universities will eventually need to catch up too.”
When asked what the government and the private sector can do to improve the situation, Mutaher says: “there are a couple of things the government at least seems to be doing. For example, the HEC has a partnership programme with Coursera, which is a great step. Similarly, it recently earmarked Rs2 billion in the budget for specialized IT trainings.”
Why Pakistan is your next Technology Hub?
https://zigron.com/2024/05/24/why-pakistan-is-your-next-technology-hub/
Pakistan – The Next Technology Hub
The world will need 80M software engineers by 2030 to keep up with the technological pace. There will be a shortage of estimated 30M technologists, and with the Russia/Ukraine war, this gap will only grow. With India up to its neck and talent gobbled up by more prominent companies; Pakistan is the only logical destination for technology resource hiring. Pakistan has universities, advanced infrastructure, government policies, and existing 300,000 talent growing rapidly by multitudes. With all these in place, Pakistan is today’s destination for finding tech talent. With Zigron’s past and current experience of serving startups to multi-billion dollar organizations; Zigron is here to bridge this gap for the companies facing a shortage of skilled tech workers today and in the future.
Why is Pakistan being termed Asia’s next Tech Hub?
Pakistan is the 3rd largest IT-enabled services exporter, with more than 40 percent software development. Pakistan is continuously creating high-tech industries and expanding its cyber security, system integration, data center, and IT outsourcing, i.e., AI, ML, IoT, Blockchain, Big Data Analytics, and Cloud Engineering. The biggest reason of all is that Pakistan is home to more than 144 universities; with some top-ranked world universities like NUST, GIKI, FAST, LUMS, UET, NED, etc., offering IT and Engineering degree programs that have so far produced over 300,000 IT professionals with expertise in AI/ML, Data Scientists, Full Stack, DB, DevOps, Designers, UI/UX, Embedded, Firmware Engineers, etc. In addition, they have been producing hardcore engineers like Electrical, CAD, Structural, Solar, Wind, Civil, Geotechnical, etc.
Pakistani universities are on the mission to make world-class talent and continue to do so with skills unmatched and dexterity unprecedented. Sky being the limit, skilled Pakistani talent is all you need to grow into a giant organization with technology expertise like AI, ML, IoT, Blockchain, Big Data Analytics, Cloud, etc. With all the efforts to further support and advance these industries; Govt is expecting 50 billion USD annual exports from the technology sector by 2030. With a lot to offer in the tech industry; Pakistani engineers are fully equipped to play their vital role in helping companies grow and succeed. Zigron also takes huge pride in being a pioneer in offering top-of-scale IT services and Engineering talent globally over the past 15 years and continues to enrich the IT world with its state-of-the-art solutions and services.
Pakistan’s IT exports are at an all-time high, with over a 30 percent growth in the last eight months.
Pakistan has made significant successes in IT exports and crossed a mark of 2 billion USD last year. Although numbers are good; there is still a significantly undiscovered IT talent that is yet to be unleashed and utilized to the full extent. Seeing the tech-minded youth, Prime Minister Imran Khan launched a ‘Digital Pakistan’ initiative; focusing on connectivity, digital infrastructure, digital skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship to further upskill the unexplored talent. The government of Pakistan has taken the forefront to uplift tech minds and help them grow by establishing a Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) to develop a high-tech economy for rapid growth.
There is a global digital skills shortage that could mean 85 million jobs are unfilled by 2030.
Every business in every sector needs to have a long-term strategy for developing digital skills.
This means focusing on diverse skills, offering training on different channels, and customizing the approach to suit different sectors.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/5-ways-develop-digital-skills-davos2023/
From World Economic Forum (WEF)
In the United States, one third of workers lack the digital skills needed to succeed in today's economy. While the digital skills shortage is slightly less acute in parts of Europe, the distribution of skills is hugely uneven across countries. Meanwhile in the Asia-Pacific region, there will be a five-fold increase the business need for digital skills by 2025.
By 2030, up to 85 million jobs will go unfilled globally, generating an $8.5 trillion gap between possible and realized annual revenues. To put it another way, technical limitations are no longer the main impediment to realizing the impact of many emergent, game-changing technologies. Rather, it is the constrained ability to grow the supply of skilled talent to meet the demands for these technologies.
Germany is Launching Opportunity Card for Foreigners Looking for Jobs
https://propakistani.pk/2024/04/22/germany-is-launching-opportunity-card-for-foreigners-looking-for-jobs/
Germany is set to introduce the Opportunity Card in June 2024, a new program aimed at facilitating employment for qualified non-EU citizens in the country. This initiative is designed to streamline the process for skilled job seekers, enhancing their ability to explore job opportunities and engage in flexible work arrangements.
The Opportunity Card represents a significant shift in Germany’s approach to immigration for skilled workers. It simplifies the existing qualification requirements, allowing individuals to enter the job market more efficiently. The card enables holders to look for jobs, participate in work trials, and if necessary, extend their stay in Germany.
The new system reduces the complexities often encountered in the bureaucratic process. Here are the key aspects of the qualification process for the Opportunity Card:
Qualification Recognition:
The card is accessible to individuals whose skills and qualifications are recognized in Germany, eliminating the need for additional special requirements.
Educational Criteria:
Eligible applicants include those with a foreign university degree, a vocational qualification of at least two years recognized by their home country, or a vocational qualification issued by a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad.
Language Proficiency:
Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency, requiring at least an A1 CEFR level in German or a B2 CEFR level in English.
Point-Based Evaluation System
The Opportunity Card uses a point-based system to assess eligibility. Points are allocated based on various factors such as the recognition of qualifications, language skills, professional experience, age, connections to Germany, and the potential involvement of partners or spouses. Applicants need to achieve a minimum of six points to be eligible.
Advantages of Holding the Opportunity Card
The Opportunity Card offers numerous benefits that facilitate a smoother transition into the German job market:
Ease of Job Search: The card allows holders to bypass lengthy recognition processes, enabling them to immediately start looking for employment.
Flexible Work Arrangements: Holders are permitted to undertake work trials and can engage in secondary employment for up to 20 hours per week.
Extension Possibility: In cases where holders are offered eligible employment but cannot secure another resident title, the card can be extended for up to an additional two years.
Germany’s Intentions
The Opportunity Card is a strategic initiative by the German government to attract skilled workers and simplify their entry into one of Europe’s leading economies. It provides a streamlined pathway for engaging with the job market without the necessity of a pre-arranged job contract, thereby offering job seekers valuable time to find suitable employment.
Steps have been announced towards incorporating technology in the curriculum to align the new generation with the demands of the present era by the Ministry of Education and Professional Training.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464660/ministry-unveils-tech-driven-curriculum
The ministry’s Federal Secretary, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani on Tuesday addressed the “STEM Mela 2024” organised under the project “STEM Pakistan Policy Unit” to provide access to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics to secondary school girls. Thousands of female students from the federal capital participated in the event.
“We are bringing technology into our curriculum so that our new generation can also understand technology in time and be in line with the modern requirements of the present,” he said while also emphasising that the government was making every effort to bring out-of-school children into schools. “We want every child to get a good education and contribute to the development of the country,” he said.
More than 1,200 children and 250 teachers participated in the fair. They participated in quiz game shows, treasure hunts, art activities, science shows and other activities. Science shows, mathematics, astronomy and biology learning zones had been set up for the students at the fair. Guidance sessions and professional development workshops were also conducted by the guests.
One of the objectives of this fair was also to appreciate the schools, school heads, teachers and students who had actively participated in the STEM Pakistan programme in the previous academic year.
The STEM Pakistan programme has now expanded to over 4,000 public schools across the country, with over 3.5m students enrolled. The programme aims to engage students in hands-on activities in classrooms and provide them with a better learning environment. The programme is also being implemented in over 200 middle and high schools of the Federal Directorate of Education.
New Tell Pakistan CEO Wahaj Siraj advised the students to make their hobby their profession, maintain their character, be problem solvers, and ask questions to clarify matters.
On the same day, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif declared an educational emergency to promote education in the country and learned how their education should be.
The Mela was a fun and educational experience for the students, encouraging them to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics subjects. The government needs to continue its efforts to promote STEM education. It needs to invest in teacher training, infrastructure, and providing opportunities for students.
Pakistan’s Top Talent Is Leaving the Country in Record Numbers
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-10-31/pakistan-s-brightest-leave-at-record-pace-with-high-cost-of-living-pkr-drop?embedded-checkout=true
Economic hardship has pushed skilled workers to move abroad, hollowing out banks, hospitals and multinational companies.
One million skilled workers — doctors, engineers, accountants and managers, among others — left Pakistan over the past three years alone, according to a government tally. That makes Pakistan one of the top 10 countries for emigration.
Asad Ejaz Butt is one of Pakistan’s best and brightest. After completing graduate studies in Canada, the economist returned home with a drive to contribute to his home country and its development.
Yet prestigious jobs working under two finance ministers weren’t enough to pay the bills. Over the past few years, as Pakistan’s inflation outranked any other nation in Asia, Butt couldn’t afford basic necessities, including rent. So he left his highly coveted government job and moved back to North America — to buy time and complete another advanced degree.
As per the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], “In terms of magnitude of the high-skilled diaspora in the OECD area, India takes the lead, with over 3 million tertiary-educated migrants, followed by China [2 million] and the Philippines [1.8 million].”
The findings were published in OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers No. 239. The data refers to 2015/16.
https://www.y-axis.com/news/india-produces-highest-number-highly-educated-migrants/
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This chart shows where the world's highly educated migrants come from
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/12/where-do-highly-educated-migrants-come-from/#:~:text=For%20India%2C%20which%20topped%20the,the%20OECD%20%E2%80%93%20or%202.25%20million.
OECD data reveals that there are around 120 million migrants living in OECD member countries. 30 to 35 percent of these migrants are considered highly educated, meaning they have received vocational or academic training. Among the most common birth countries for highly educated migrants, these shares are a lot higher, however.
For India, which topped the list as of 2015/16 with more than three million highly educated migrants in the OECD, the share of those considered of high education status was nearly 65 percent. China had a rate of 48.6 percent highly educated migrants in the OECD – or 2.25 million.
The Philippines come in rank 3, behind the world’s two biggest countries and ahead of a list of OECD nations, naturally trading highly educated personnel back and forth with each other, especially within Europe. 53.3 percent of Filipino immigrants to the OECD are considered highly educated, which brings the total to almost 1.9 million for a country of just over 100 million inhabitants. In a paper on the Philippines, the International Labor Organization finds that many of those high skilled migrants - to OECD countries and elsewhere – were health care professionals, especially nurses. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippines government has put a stop to this brain drain at least temporarily by capping the deployment of newly hired nurses at 5,000 per year.
Around half of Filipino migrants in the OECD chose the United States, forming one of the most important migration corridors identified by the OECD, behind Mexican and Indian immigration to the United States and ahead of Polish immigration to Germany.
Pakistan ranks 91st among the 133 economies featured in the GII 2024. The Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks world economies according to their innovation capabilities. Consisting of roughly 80 indicators, grouped into innovation inputs and outputs, the GII aims to capture the multi-dimensional facets of innovation.
https://www.wipo.int/gii-ranking/en/pakistan
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https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2024/article_0013.html
In more recent years, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Brazil, Indonesia, Mauritius and Pakistan have climbed most in the GII (in order of their ranking). Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan maintain their overperformer status for a third year and Brazil for a fourth consecutive year.
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Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Singapore and the United Kingdom are the world’s most-innovative economies, while China, Türkiye, India, Viet Nam and the Philippines1 are the fastest 10-year climbers, according to WIPO’s Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, which shows a softening in venture capital activity, R&D funding and other investment indicators.
Now in its 17th edition, the GII is the world's benchmark resource charting global innovation trends to guide policy makers, business leaders and others in unleashing human ingenuity to improve lives and address shared challenges, like climate change. This year, the GII also looks at “social entrepreneurship,” which uses private-sector practices for positive social change.
The 2024 edition identifies a major softening in leading indicators of future innovative activity, including a reversal of the 2020-2022 boom in innovation investments. Amid higher interest rates, venture capital (VC) funding dropped by about 40 percent in 2023 and growth slipped in research and development (R&D) expenditures, while international patent filings and scientific publications fell.
Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
The hidden truth about India's brain drain?
It's not just about loss, but transformation.
Sometimes the biggest exports aren't products.
They're people who change the world.
This is the new “oil” that nations will compete for.
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897365133643808
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
This is India:
- 11% of Fortune 500 CEOs
- 90+ unicorn founders are Indian-born
- 1/3 of all engineers in Silicon Valley are from India
Why have they all left India to succeed?
Here's the hidden truth about the world's most controversial brain drain 🧵:
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874896954771329162
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
First, let's understand the scale of this exodus:
- 1.3M Indians left between 2015-2022
- 225,000 renounced citizenship in 2022 alone
- 1.5M Indian students studying overseas
This isn't just migration…it's a transformation of global leadership.
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897002905096520
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
The economic impact is staggering:
- IT sector missing $15-20B yearly potential
- Shortage of 2.4M doctors
- $160B lost annually to brain drain
For perspective:
That's more than India's entire defense budget (~$74.3B).
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897020563140714
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
Look at the paradox:
India simultaneously:
- Leads global tech companies
- Produces top innovators
- Creates world-class talent
Yet struggles to keep any of them.
The reason? There are a few key factors…
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897054474117197
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
The reality on the ground:
- 7.33% unemployment rate (2022)
- Significantly lower wages than global standards
- Limited R&D investment
- Restricted innovation opportunities
This creates a powerful push factor.
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897120765132863
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
But here's where it gets interesting…
While India loses talent, it gains something else:
- Massive remittance inflows
- Global knowledge transfer
- International influence
A hidden advantage that will only strengthen as global mobility increases
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897153983926344
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Alessandro Palombo
@0x_ale
The story is clear:
- Microsoft
- Google
- Adobe
- IBM
All run by Indians who left India.
But now something fascinating is happening...
https://x.com/0x_ale/status/1874897170282975581
Vivek Ramaswamy Breaks Social Media Silence After H-1B Visa Fallout
https://www.newsweek.com/vivek-ramaswamy-h1b-visa-fallout-breaks-social-media-silence-2016523
Ramaswamy and Musk sparked anger online for days in late December after they both showed support for H-1B visas, which bring in skilled foreign workers to the U.S.
In a lengthy post on December 26, Ramaswamy wrote on X: "The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over 'native' Americans isn't because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if we're really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH."
He added the following day: "I've long said the current H-1B system is badly broken & needs to be gutted. It shouldn't use a lottery, it should be based on pure MERIT. It shouldn't tether workers to just one corporation. Same principles I favor today."
Ramaswamy has been largely silent on social media since December 30.
Meanwhile, Musk, the world's richest person who himself used the H-1B visa scheme, defended it in a post on December 28.
"The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B," he wrote on X.
"Take a big step back and F*** YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend."
Trump, who was previously critical of H-1B visas, sided with Ramaswamy and Musk over the issue, telling the New York Post in late December that he "always liked" them.
He also denied that he had changed his mind on the visas, telling reporters at a press conference in December in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, that "we need smart people coming into our country."
What People Are Saying
Vivek Ramaswamy posted on X on Thursday: "Dawn of a new Golden Age. Starts on Monday."
He added in a December 26 post: "Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer). That doesn't start in college, it starts YOUNG. A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers."
President-elect Donald Trump told the New York Post on December 28: "I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That's why we have them. I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great program."
Senator Bernie Sanders wrote in an opinion piece for Fox News on January 8: "In recent weeks, the H-1B program has sparked intense debate. Billionaires like Elon Musk claim it is crucial to our economy, arguing that the United States faces a shortage of highly skilled engineers and technology professionals. They are dead wrong. The primary purpose of H-1B and other guest worker programs is not to employ the 'best and the brightest,' but instead to replace American workers with lower-paid workers from abroad who often live as indentured servants. The cheaper it is to hire guest workers, the more money the multi-billionaire owners of large corporations make."
What Happens Next
Trump, Ramaswamy and Musk will begin work in the new administration following the President-elect's inauguration on January 20.
Comedian Leonarda Jonie: " You want to talk about a group that's racist, the Indians are so racist they have a whole caste system. You should hear the shi* they say about darjit (dalit). They don't even consider them human"
https://x.com/leonardaisfunE/status/1888428850314702978
https://x.com/jakeshieldsajj/status/1887568815313330253
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H-1B Hate Speech Against Indians Sparks Outrage: Far-Right Host Stew Peters’ Racist Tirade Goes Viral - '... Third World Parasites'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/h-1b-hate-speech-against-indians-sparks-outrage-far-right-host-stew-peters-racist-tirade-goes-viral-third-world-parasites/amp_articleshow/116781139.cms
A video of far-right commentator Stew Peters and comedian Leonarda Jonie spewing hate against Indian immigrants has sparked widespread condemnation online. Peters, known for his inflammatory rhetoric, posted the video on X with the caption: "This is the culture we’re importing through 'qualified H1-B visa' recipients."
In the video, Peters launched into a tirade, calling Indians “cockroaches and parasites,” accusing them of "not assimilating into American culture" and making vile claims about their hygiene and moral values. Jonie, laughing along, did little to challenge Peters’ remarks, which included grotesque stereotypes and unfounded accusations.
His language was laced with vitriol as he painted a picture of Indian immigrants as a threat to American society. He went on to mock Indian cultural practices, including accusing them of brushing their teeth with the same material they use to eat soup
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