LAHORE: (Friday, October 23, 2026): Punjab University in collaboration with the Higher Education Department, Punjab and Tech Valley Pakistan organized the ‘Google Career Certificates’ orientation and outreach session. The event aimed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands by providing students with hands-on access to globally recognized IT and digital certifications. The session saw enthusiastic participation from students across various departments, who were guided through 13 specialized certification tracks—including data analytics, cyber security, artificial intelligence, project management and user experience design. The event featured on-the-spot course enrollment, enabling students to immediately access their Coursera invitations and begin their learning pathways. On this occasion, Director HED Naveed Hassan, Program Manager, Tech Valley Google Madiha Hussain Mongol, Deputy Director / Focal Person Mujtaba Ali Gondal, Dr. Asim Tanvir and students were present. Addressing the ceremony, HED Director Naveed Hassan emphasized that this province-wide program is a landmark initiative by the Government of Punjab, launched under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat, to empower youth with modern technical expertise. Dr. Asim Tanvir stressed that alongside a traditional university degree, obtaining specialized professional certifications is vital. He highlighted that these additional skill sets are highly sought after, valued, and mandatory by top employers in today's competitive job market. He urged students to take full advantage of this opportunity to enhance their career readiness. Program Manager, Tech Valley Google Madiha Hussain Mongol delivered an inspiring presentation, strongly motivating students to enroll in and complete these certifications, calling them an essential need of the hour for modern professional growth. The program concluded with a shared resolve to boost digital literacy and technical capabilities across the province.