Sindh to launch graduate internship scheme through iwork4Sindh

The Sindh government will launch an internship programme for degree holders from November through its iwork4Sindh platform, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced.

Memon, who holds the information, transport and mass transit portfolios, said the programme is meant to give young people practical experience and improve their professional skills. The provincial government, he said, is taking measures to create employment opportunities for the young and to help them build their capabilities. "The government wants young people to have an appropriate platform to utilise their abilities and access better opportunities," he said in the statement.

Dawn reported that the scheme would begin next month; the Daily Times and ProPakistani reported that the start date is November.

According to the Daily Times account of his statement, a second phase of short physical courses for skilled individuals will also be launched on the same platform in collaboration with companies, with the curriculum built around what the market requires. Memon said traditional education on its own is no longer enough and that practical skills and professional training matter greatly if young people are to prepare themselves for work.

He also gave figures for the platform's performance so far: more than 5.3 million visits, 137,770 registered candidates and 726 registered companies. He said 26,677 active job opportunities are currently listed and that 480,000 applications have been submitted through the portal.

Over the past three months, he said, 4,800 candidates have completed various courses while about 6,000 are currently enrolled in training. Career counselling is continuing alongside the courses, with 18 to 20 sessions held every week to help young people choose a career path, he added.

The announcement gave no details on the number of internship places, their duration, stipends or which departments and companies will host interns. It also did not say whether the internships are paid or how candidates will be selected. Those specifics were not included in the statements carried by any of the three outlets.

Sindh's unemployment among educated young people has been a recurring subject of provincial debate, and the iwork4Sindh portal is the provincial government's main online channel for advertising vacancies and running skills courses.