'Microsoft Imagine Cup 2020' launched

Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Microsoft Pakistan on Monday announced the launch of Microsoft Imagine Cup 2020 aimed at empowering students to use their creativity to address real societal problems through technology.

Imagine Cup is an annual global technology competition hosted by Microsoft Corp, bringing together the young technologists to play their part in resolving some of the world's toughest challenges. Not only a competition, Imagine Cup which was started in 2003 serves as a platform for teams to present their solutions to the world and is the ideal opportunity for the youthful innovators, from around the world, to give expression to their imagination, bring ideas to life and win $100,000.

The event was attended among others by Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry; Special Advisor to PM on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar; Chairman for Higher Education Commission, Tariq Banuri; Microsoft Country General Manager, Abid Zaidi; and Microsoft Country Education Lead, Jibran Jamshad.

The competition that will be streamed live on HEC's EDUTV online reach across the country, would advocate inclusiveness and equal access to opportunities to the youth across the nation.

This year, Higher Education Commission through the Prime Minister's Kamyab Jawan Initiative is bringing the program to Pakistan in collaboration with Microsoft via a program designed to facilitate the government's vision of empowering youth to realize their full potential individually and collectively, to contribute effectively to the development processes of the country and play their role in the digital economy.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry said the link among education, attainment and economic growth has never been clearer. Around the world, the communities where educational excellence is a high priority create the most economic opportunities. The foundation for sustainable economic growth for the future is being laid, through this initiative, he added.

Imagine Cup is one of Microsoft's many efforts to transform skill development, nurture budding technologists and foster collaborative and innovative spirit. This global technology competition boasts of several success stories emerging from the competition. It's a great platform to innovate, get recognized and eventually get enabled to bring about a positive change.

Fawad Chaudhry said the present government had increased the science and technology budget up to 600 times which would be further increased up to 1,000 times.

He said four percent of the total budget would be spent on biotechnology till the next year, adding future lies in education. The initial development in science and technology sector was encouraging in Pakistan; however, the country lagged behind in this sector with passage of time, he added. The minister said Ministry for Science and Technology was a scattered institution but now things are moving in right direction.

The federal minister demanded to withdraw the First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against students for participating in political activities. The political parties in the past used to exploit the student unions for their own purposes which damaged the reputation of those student unions. Student Unions existed in all the international level institutions including Harvard and Oxford universities and are an integral part of democratic societies which helped inculcate political acumen in the youth, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar said the government is going to launch start-up programs for providing maximum opportunities to the youth to emerge as useful citizens.

'Start-up program is indispensable for the success of any project in Pakistan," he added. He said the government would establish a biggest platform under Kamyab Naujawan initiative to utilize the potential of youth for constructive purposes. So far, around 600,000 youth have applied for Kamyab Naujawan Program aimed at providing maximum facilities to the youth.

"Supporting youth means supporting the whole economy of the country," he said.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had allocated Rs 100 billion for the uplift of youth.

The government is also planning to launch Hunarmand Naujawan Program to provide skills to the youth keeping in mind the latest 21st century requirements and internship program for the youth, he added.

Chairman HEC Tariq Banuri said Imagine Cup is all about innovation, transformation and what comes next. The program continues to cultivate a spirit of social and technological entrepreneurship, empowering students to use their creativity to address real societal problems through technology. "We have seen extremely innovative ideas coming in and the students who have been participating especially in the Imagine Cup and so many of them have gone on to establish their own start-ups that are now becoming multimillion dollar companies. I am proud of our students for participating in this global event and I am sure they will bring laurels for Pakistan".

Country Education Lead for Education, Microsoft Pakistan Jibran Jamshad said, "At Microsoft we strive to bring the right set of tools and technology towards the students so that they can change the work for the better. The way we look at our students, we feel that they are the agents of change and they just need the right set of tools to succeed. The energy these students are bringing to Imagine Cup is phenomenal. As a technology company we want to empower our students and enable them to shape our future "

Later talking to media, Fawad Chaudhry said consensus would be developed on the appointment of next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) soon.

The consensus is being developed on the names of the members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief Justice and Army Chief all want to strengthen the institutions, he said while stressing the need to hold a national level dialogue with participation of all of them.

To a question, the federal minister said, "We are in consensus on the matter of Army Chief Act amendment. The Army Chief did not belong to a single party but to the whole country."

To another question, he said Pakistan Cricket Board will have to take steps to improve the performance of Pakistani cricket team and held the board responsible for bad performance of the national team.