TAXILA: The Attock district administration has successfully launched `learn and earn` IT programme for the youth of the district, enabling them to achieve economic self-reliance through freelancing, graphic designing, and other related courses.

This was stated by additional deputy commissioner finance and planning Attock, Nosheen Israr while addressing a seminar for youth as the chief guest at District Council Hall, Attock.

District Education Officer Secondary Mohammad Altaf, principal of higher secondary school Syed Kazim Shah, Principal Fauji Foundation School and College Attock retired Col Mohammad Arif and heads of various public and private institutions, along with a large number of students were also present on this occasion.

She was of the view that the youth were the bright future of our country and can make Pakistan shine globally by acquiring IT skills.

She said that over 250 IT labs in gov-ernment schools across the Attock district have been upgraded with a selfhelp initiative costing over Rs25 million.

She further highlighted that under the `Learn and Earn` programme, 300 IT teachers in the district have undergone five-day training in three groups.

These trained teachers are now providing professional IT education to over 700 students in 32 government schools across the district. She added that IT labs across the district are being upgraded, which will further enhance IT education in the region.

She also mentioned that institutions likethePakistanInformationTechnology Board (PITB), Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums), and other relevant organisations have been engaged in providing training for the Learn and Earn programme.

She stressed the importance of skillbased education for women, who constitute 50pc of the population, to empower them economically and reduce their dependency on others.

She said the District Public School of Information Technology will play a vital role in promoting skill-based education.