Talent is everywhere in Pakistan, and opportunity is not. I believe an ecosystem only stands when all of its pillars stand, so if only Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad grow, the whole IT industry is held back. Outside Datics AI, I put my energy into closing that gap for students and young founders, with a particular focus on South Punjab: I bring them into the same rooms as established companies, government and industry experts, and our team at Datics AI trains them for real jobs.
A not-for-profit I founded to build the technology ecosystem of South Punjab, a region with a lot of talent and few opportunities. Its mission is to give young people and budding professionals learning, networking and career opportunities in the digital space.
The first Tech Nation conference brought more than a thousand delegates to The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, with support from federal ministries, PITB, the Pakistan Software Export Board and P@SHA, and a job fair where companies interviewed students. Senator Aon Abbas Buppi, who chaired the closing session, told me from the stage: “For organizing such a wonderful event as Tech Nation, Umair, to you and your team: hats off to all of you, you have done a really great job.”
An evening I organized under Tech Nation, with Takmeel Square and with P@SHA as supporting partner, bringing together tech leaders, freelancers, founders and government officials from across South Punjab.
I led founders and CEOs from South Punjab on two days of visits to leading Lahore technology companies and to PITB, for direct access to the firms, institutions and experts that are hard to reach from smaller cities.
Named after my grandfather, Haji Rana Abdul Aziz, who spent most of his life helping and serving the people of Lodhran. From him I learned humility and to help others, and on my 26th birthday I pledged to carry his mission forward. The foundation is how I do it.
On the first anniversary of my grandfather's passing, I signed an agreement with FAST-NUCES Lahore for full four-year scholarships for students from Lodhran District.
For our 2023 TechLift bootcamp, the foundation gave deserving students from smaller towns, especially Lodhran, a place to stay in Lahore: its first step towards opening the digital world to young people from our region.
Training for real jobs, judging startups and talking to students, mostly outside the big cities.
Through Datics AI we trained more than 500 young people: 216 graduates in two TechLift batches, and around 300 in AI with NAVTTC.
Judge for four startup competitions run by PITB and SEE Pakistan, and a panelist at FAST on closing the gap between graduates' skills and industry needs.
Keynote to BSCS and BSIT students at MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Guest of Honor at FAST-NUCES Lahore's Medal Distribution Ceremony, and speaker at the iSkills Youth Summit in Multan.
Umair Majeed