Aitizaz Hassan ISLAMABAD, June 02 (INP-WealthPK): In a joint effort to narrow the digital divide in Pakistan, Pakistan’s cellular company Zong 4G has joined forces with Punjab Skill Development Fund (PSDF) and global technology leader Huawei. As part of the partnership, PSDF has received 300 smart Huawei tablets from Zong and Huawei Pakistan, with both partners working collaboratively to digitally empower the Pakistani youth by providing critical digital resources and tools to support their skill development. Talking to WealthPK, Akbar Hussain, Head of Marketing and Communications at PSDF, said they have partnered with Zong and Huawei to build and stimulate an eco-system of digital collaboration to empower the youth of Pakistan through “How to e-Lance” courses. “We aim to train 10,000 youths in critical skill sets needed to launch successful careers online on Fiverr and Upwork – the world’s leading digital platforms for professional freelancers. The learners will also get free data from Zong to complete the course and the top learners will receive Huawei tablets for support,” Akbar Hussain added. The Fund has received MetaPad tablets and will utilize them to implement its online learning and hybrid training programs targeted at nurturing learners’ skillsets so they can seize employment and income-generating opportunities. As part of its digital training program ‘e-tayyar’, PSDF is funding skills training that is in demand by employers to equip the learners with skills to advance their careers in the digital era. This will be achieved by training them in emerging careers such as professional freelancing and how to launch their entrepreneurial ventures. In a statement, Chief Operating Officer of PSDF Ali Akbar Bosan said the collaboration among PSDF, Zong and Huawei has created a holistic opportunity for PSDF trainees to gain access to technical knowledge through PSDF course content and the digital tools they need to access their course like internet data and smart devices from the nation’s top IT provider. Commenting on the development, Zong’s official spokesperson said, “It’s a delight to be extending our partnership for digital empowerment and bringing more opportunities for Pakistanis to get trained on digital skills. The partnership resonates with our motto of ‘Let’s Get Digital’, as it will bridge the digital divide in Pakistan. I’m confident that we’ll achieve greater milestones out of this collaboration.” To support its efforts of closing the digital divide that exists in the country, PSDF has already forged successful partnerships with Zong and Huawei in the past. PSDF and Zong’s strategy is to utilize the tablets to optimize their usage ensuring that many people can benefit from them. The tablets will be distributed amongst high-achieving trainees to ensure that they can continue to earn a living through freelancing. Since its inception, PSDF has trained more than 500,000 people in more than 250 trades including transgender people, minority and people with disabilities.