Look ahead to a time when Pakistan will produce and not just consume technology. Consider Pakistan one of the many places where the most sophisticated and smallest components of technology will be designed. Thanks to the big developments made recently, the journey towards that future has already begun. On October 21, 2025, Pakistan launched INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch, the first of many steps towards Pakistan’s self-reliant technology and knowledge based digital economy.2 Speaking at the inauguration of INSPIRE, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan had formally joined the technologies of the world semiconductors, and self-reliant knowledge based digital economy on the global market.
INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch is the first of many steps becoming a participant in the global semiconductor $600 billion ecosystem projected to be $1 trillion by 2030. With the launch of INSPIRE, the Ministry of Information Technology, along with the Pakistan Software Export Board, is empowered and facilitated to spearhead activities of the Pakistan National Semiconductor Initiative. I3t is here where the country will manufacture the first semiconductors and to be the first to train and develop talent in Pakistan to design the integrated circuits and semiconductors used in the most sophisticated mobile and supercomputers. The INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch is a landmark event.
An important moment during the launch ceremony. The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates INSPIRE as a milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation. He underscored the importance of innovation, research, and skilled human capital as the real drivers of sustainable development.
The Prime Minister stated, “Our vision is to prepare Pakistan’s youth for the industries of tomorrow. This is aimed at establishing the frontiers of a new economy wherein Pakistan exports skill, tech, and inventive solutions to the globe.
The Prime Minister offered a firm promise concerning the timely criticism of public projects relative to their ambition. He stated Rs 4.5 billion allocated and public service development and stated unequivocally, “Funding will not be a constraint.” He also instructed the relevant government departments on the public service development and stated unequivocally, “Funding will not be a constraint.” The stated allocation and promise are a signal to the relevant departments as to the government’s focus on the strategic importance of the technology sector. The success hinges on the momentum generated by the INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch.
The ongoing INSPIRE project is designed and incorporated within a larger, integrated strategy for digital reforms at the national level. Certainly, Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the “whole of government” efforts focused on the creation of a unified and contemporary digital architecture for the country. This includes the creation of the Pakistan Digital Authority, the digital integration of the Federal Board of Revenue, and the deployment of technologies toward the establishment of a cashless economy.4
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, underscored the interconnection of these initiatives. She stated that INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch is a manifestation of the government’s commitment to developing a technology-infused economy. From her viewpoint, the focus is on the people, especially the weaker portions of society, and the youth and women, who will be equipped with contemporary economically empowering competencies.
“IINSPIRE encompasses the Prime Minister’s vision of a digitally empowered Pakistan,” she stated, highlighting the paradigm shift. “A vision in which our students, researchers, and professionals will not only learn but lead in the global semiconductor industry.” To this end, she stated that her ministry is building strategic international partnerships and investment alliances in semiconductor research, design, broadband, and advanced manufacturing to expand their cooperation.
What steps are currently taken? Dr. Naveed Sherwani, chair of the National Semiconductor Task Force, disclosed the strategic roadmap, with INSPIRE defined as the most important first step. The vision is to construct a world-class semiconductor ecosystem that fully integrates academia, research, and industry. The INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch lays the foundation.
As integrated technology systems and the associated skills become increasingly important, Abu Bakar, CEO of PSEB, detailed the key mission and described the initiative as a flagship project to nurture Pakistan’s home-grown technology. This is not a pilot initiative but one that is intended to establish a pipeline of highly skilled professionals. INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch will train over the next five years, 7,200 people in semiconductor design, verification, and research and allied fields. Nine public-sector universities across Pakistan’s diverse political and geographical regions will be involved, and most importantly, 6 Integrated Circuit (IC) laboratories will be constructed to provide the students and researchers with the modern instructional and research facilities needed.
This first phase of the National Semiconductor Development Roadmap is intended to establish the foundation for more sophisticated capabilities by enabling future Outsourced Assembly & Testing (OSAT) and, ultimately, fabrication. The envisioned end goal is full integration into the competitive global semiconductor supply chain. The INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch is a pivotal moment for this integration.
With the introduction of INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch, Pakistan’s digital transformation journey will begin a new chapter: marked by innovation, new opportunities, and new global partnerships. The initiative’s timing is Pakistan’s most strategically exciting, emerging opportunity within the global high-value, trillion-dollar semiconductor industry. The future is bright following the INSPIRE Semiconductor Launch.
