Over 700 graduates of the Saylani Welfare International Trust’s (SWIT) Mass IT Training Programme participated in a 12-hour hackathon titled “Coding Night” at the newly inaugurated Zaitoon Ashraf IT Park. The event tested participants’ computer programming abilities in real-time, with students tasked to complete two live software development challenges.
Those successfully completing a task received prizes, and the event concluded with a hearty breakfast after a night of coding. Sindh Governor Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori, the guest of honor, commended the Saylani Trust for empowering students from low and middle-income families with valuable software skills. He highlighted that graduates were now qualified to earn in US dollars through freelancing, calling the initiative a transformative step for Pakistan’s youth. Governor Tessori also revealed that 50,000 students are currently enrolled in a free IT training programme at the Governor House, conducted in collaboration with SWIT.
A similar program in Hyderabad will train an additional 50,000 students. He added that many trainees were already earning between $500 to $1,500 monthly through freelancing. Governor Tesspri announced that IT graduates from the programme would soon receive Google certifications, a step he discussed with State IT & Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja. He described the hackathon as a symbol of hope and progress, lamenting that no such impactful initiative had been undertaken in Pakistan’s 77-year history. Addressing the audience, SWIT founder Maulana Bashir Farooq Qadri laid out an ambitious plan to train 10 million IT professionals by 2035. He envisioned these graduates contributing to Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and helping the country pay off its foreign debts. Highlighting the global demand for IT expertise, Maulana Qadri stated, “Pakistani youth, equipped with the right skills, can rival their Indian counterparts, who generate $200 billion annually through software exports.”
He encouraged students to prioritize Pakistan’s progress over personal gains, emphasizing that divine blessings follow selfless efforts. He also shared details of his recent visit to Silicon Valley, where he showcased the skills of Saylani-trained graduates to leading tech companies, a move he claimed was more impactful than any undertaken by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
