Islamabad (Urdu Point / Pakistan Point News – 5 April 2026) Virtual University of Islamabad Pakistan (VU) successfully conducted the National Skills Competency Test (NSCT) for IT students across the country, which was organized based on the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
This initiative, which is in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, has been implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MoITT) and Pakistan Software Export Corporation. blackboard (PSEB), and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA).
The aim of the computer-based standardized test was to enhance the employability and market readiness of IT graduates in Pakistan by assessing their skills at the national level and aligning academic results with industry requirements.
Testing was conducted on April 4 and 5, 2026, in four sessions daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., each session lasting 120 minutes.
A total of 40,784 students from 199 universities participated in the test. To demonstrate its strong operational capacity, the Virtual University organized the testing across 112 cities in 165 testing centers nationwide. To ensure transparency and smooth conduct, 592 monitoring personnel were dispatched to all centers.
During the inspection, Minister of Information Technology and Communications, Shatha Fatima Khawaja, visited the Central Control and Monitoring Room in Islamabad accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Information Technology.
She was briefed on the real-time monitoring mechanisms established to ensure transparency and effective oversight of examination centers nationwide.
The Minister expressed appreciation for the arrangements and described the initiative as an important step towards strengthening the digital workforce in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Higher Committee Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar paid a visit to the university Lahore Regional office and virtual university control room. He was accompanied by Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood, President of the University, and Professor Dr. Atheer Azim Khan, Registrar of Victoria University.
Senior officials, including Ehsan Zafar Puri, Director, ICT, and Sarmad Latif, Additional Controller of Examinations, were also present at the conference.
The visiting dignitaries were given a detailed explanation of the university’s technological infrastructure and its ability to conduct large-scale testing nationwide. The Chairman of the Board of Directors appreciated the efforts made, and congratulated the leadership of the Virtual University and its work team for fulfilling this important national responsibility in a highly professional manner.
The Virtual University of Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national development through technology educationand digital innovation and large-scale evaluation initiatives.