Press Release Government of Pakistan Ministry of IT & Telecommunication.
Karachi: Saturday, 18th February 2023: Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication Syed Amin-Ul-Haque has said that the establishment of the Center of Excellence in Gaming and Animation (CEGA) at NED University is a gift from the Ministry of IT to the youth of this city.
The gaming and animation industry in the world has a volume of more than 500 billion dollars, of which Pakistan’s share is limited to only 50 million dollars. We hope that through the CEGA, Pakistan will be able to turn its short segment into a big one in the #gaming and #animation industry. This was stated on Saturday in the MoU signing ceremony held at NED University Karachi.
The MoU was signed by Asim Shahryar Husain, CEO of Ignite National Technology Fund; a public sector company affiliated with the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT) and Syed Ghazanfar Hussain, Registrar NED University Karachi. The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of IT & Telecom, Ignite, NED University Karachi and professionals from industry & academia.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Amin-Ul-Haque welcomed the establishment of CEGA, stating that; the government is committed to supporting the growth of the technology and creative industries in Pakistan, and the establishment of the Center of Excellence for Gaming and Animation is a step in the right direction. Ministry of IT and Ignite National Technology Fund believe that Pakistan has great potential to meet both the demand and supply side of the gaming and animation industry.
We believe that this initiative will provide the necessary skills and platform to the youth of Pakistan to contribute to the gaming and animation industry while also aiding the country’s economy.
He said that the gaming and animation industry has seen tremendous growth owing to the availability of the internet, satellite TV, mobile devices, social media, and growing demand for entertainment, gaming, animation movies, and visual effects. CEGA will provide a platform for the tech and arts industry to come forward, learn and enhance their gaming and animation skills and will also aid the national economy to capture the market share in the billion-dollar worldwide gaming and animation industry.
“In this most important event today, I am happy that an important step is being taken towards the realization of this dream, in which I am paving the way for the development and development of not only Karachi but the country and the nation”, the IT Minister added.
Haque said Karachi contribute 67% of the revenue in the country’s economy i.e. runs the entire country. No serious steps have ever been taken to run this city and for the welfare and development of its residents. MQM is the only party which, whenever the power and resources were available, first did exemplary work for the urban areas of Sindh including Karachi.
He said; “The reason is that like many areas of IT, it has always been neglected in the past. But on the policy and direction of our party, while on the one hand, I launched the same projects for the four provinces without discrimination during my ministry, the most important projects were also launched for the people of Karachi”.
Describing the details of the project Minister IT said, the State of the Art Center of Excellence and Animation and Gaming established at NED University on 13 thousand square feet will cost Rupees 1.5 billion and will be functional in the next 6 months.
The most expensive animation and gaming courses will be provided to 2,000 students annually through this centre through physical and virtual attendance. The centre will also host 20 start-ups every year, which will not only provide an ideal environment for the talented with imaginative abilities but also provide an easy observation for new learners.
This centre will also provide space to 50 companies working in gaming and animation, which will enable them to do their work with better adaptation and technology and allow students to share their ideas and work methods with them. A practical opportunity to know will also be available.
Amin-Ul-Haque further said, along with this centre, Pakistan’s first modern Virtual Production Studio is also being established at a cost of Rupees One Billion. This studio will enable our talented professionals to produce world-class gaming and animation project with the help of state-of-the-art cameras and equipment.
Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Vice Chancellor NED University, commended the initiative and stressed the importance of providing a dedicated platform for youth to hone their gaming and animation skills. He said, “As an educational institution, we recognize the importance of fostering creativity and technical expertise among our youth. The gaming and animation industry is a dynamic and growing sector, and CEGA has the potential to drive innovation and job creation in Pakistan”.
Syed Junaid Imam, Member IT MoITT, stated that the establishment of the Center of Excellence exclusively for Gaming and Animation (CEGA) by the Ministry of IT & Telecom and Ignite National Technology Fund represents a significant step forward for the gaming and animation industry of Pakistan.
Through CEGA as an enabler, our goal will be to take Pakistan’s gaming and animation exports to $500 million within the next five years. Earlier in his welcome address, Asim Shahryar Husain, CEO of Ignite stated that “The aim of this program is to make Pakistan one of the key regional players in the gaming, animation, and multimedia industry by providing proper equipment, co-working facilities, and pieces of training over a period of five (5) years. CEGA has the potential to contribute significantly to the growth of the industry and to the country’s economy and exports.
