The Department of Higher Education in Punjab has initiated a project to transform all 85 commerce colleges across the province into IT-focused institutions, according to departmental sources.
According to media reports, the decision follows a significant decline in student interest in commerce courses, with enrolment figures dropping to under 100 students at each college.
Shift to IT in response to changing job market
Originally announced in July, the conversion comes as the government seeks to address both the enrolment drop and the growing demand for IT professionals.
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Officials noted that the government currently spends Rs300,000 per commerce student, which has become unsustainable given the shrinking numbers. The shift to IT education is intended to provide students with skills that are more relevant to the modern job market, particularly in the expanding global tech sector.
E-libraries and IT experts to support transformation
Punjab’s Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat confirmed that e-libraries will be established in the newly transformed IT colleges, beginning with those in Lahore. He highlighted the project’s goal of making Punjab a competitive player in the international IT industry.
Furthermore, the reports indicate that the recruitment of IT experts and the physical transformation of the colleges are set to begin within the next 10 days, as part of a broader effort to prepare students for emerging opportunities in the tech sector.
