We are pleased to announce a brand new Microsoft Innovation
Center in Lahore, Pakistan. The Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) in Lahore
officially launched on November 21, 2012, by the Microsoft Pakistan team, in
collaboration with Government of Punjab. This specific MIC has been established
with the aim of facilitating the local IT-based economy via development of
skills and talent showcasing and is being supported by the Punjab Information
Technology Board (PITB).  
  
The MIC Lahore will have different programs geared towards developing diverse segments of the
knowledge-based economy. The Skills Development program focuses on
intellectual capital and polishes the IT-skills of people through technical and
business courses for local ICT companies. It also provides structured
employment programs for students. The second program, the Partnership
Accelerator, focuses on enabling successful partnerships by connecting
people and organizations in the innovation ecosystem. The local and regional
industrial alliances are further cultivated in partnership with Microsoft to
support the growth of software ‘industry clusters’ and software quality
assurance programs.

Another program is the Innovation Accelerator. This program will emphasize the
enhancement of local technical capacity through innovative engagements. This
includes labs, prototype development, testing for ISVs, Startups, Partners,
Students and Entrepreneurs.

Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft North Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and Pakistan
noted, “Through our collaboration with the government of Punjab, we are now
providing access to world-class resources for software developers, IT
professionals, students, academics and entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Tuned to
local and regional needs, MIC in Lahore will fuel the development of local
software industries in Pakistan and fill young technology users with enthusiasm
to make them ready to address the challenges ahead.”

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz
Sharif, attended the launch, in addition to Dr. Umar Saif, the Chairman of
the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and Saima Sheikh, the Joint
Director E-Government of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).
Dr. Ijaz Munir, Secretary Higher Education Department for the Government of
Punjab was also there, in addition to Microsoft’s Ali Faramawy,
Corporate Vice President, Microsoft MEA, Sayed Hashish General Manager,
Microsoft NEPA and Harb Bou-Harb, Public Sector Lead, Microsoft NEPA.