PSEB opens free 12 week bootcamps in AI, cyber security and cloud, with applications closing 30 October
The Pakistan Software Export Board is training graduates and working IT staff at no charge, with ten courses and in person classes in cities from Karachi to Gilgit.
Pakistani graduates and working IT staff have until Friday, 30 October to apply for a free, full time technology bootcamp from the Pakistan Software Export Board. The 12 week courses are funded under the Prime Minister's Initiative and are taught in person at designated centres. Applications go through the board's portal, bootcamps.techdestination.com.
The portal lists ten courses: artificial intelligence, digital forensics and cyber security, DevOps, database, cloud infrastructure, web engineering, mobile development, UI and UX, automation and software testing, and games and art. The AI course covers Python, machine learning, generative AI, large language models and AI agents. Each applicant may choose one course only.
Who can apply
Fresh graduates need a computing or IT degree of at least 16 years of education, completed in 2023 or later, and a valid CNIC. Working IT professionals with a 16 year degree in any discipline from 2023 onward can also apply if they hold a technical job, confirmed by a letter from the CEO or HR. Students in their eighth semester may be considered only if seats remain after graduates are placed. The board encourages women to apply.
Applicants register on the portal, choose a category, course and city, verify their email and sit an online test covering basic English, logical reasoning and the basics of the chosen field. Shortlisting depends on the test score, eligibility, document checks and available seats. Each class is capped at 50 trainees.
What trainees get
Each course runs for 300 hours: 230 hours of technical training and labs, 45 hours of soft skills, and 25 hours on AI tools, freelancing and employability. Centres provide computer workstations, and sessions are recorded for online viewing, which the portal says stays available for one year after graduation.
Training, lab access, learning material and mentoring from industry professionals are free. Trainees who pass an internal assessment after the course, with one retake allowed, qualify for vouchers for international certification exams, provided they attend at least 80 percent of sessions. The board also offers career counselling and placement help, but says completion does not guarantee a job. There is no monthly stipend or travel allowance.
Training takes place in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and other cities, including Gilgit, Skardu and Muzaffarabad. Applicants need a CNIC, a recent photograph, the degree certificate and a transcript, plus an employment letter for working professionals. Anyone who misses the online test window is not considered for this cohort.
