ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered submission of a comprehensive plan to promote IT exports. He said the government would take steps to fully tap the country’s billion-dollar potential for IT exports and ensure that the youth get the necessary facilities for education, skill development and startups.
The Prime Minister chaired a review meeting on the IT and Telecom sector, which was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs and Civil Administration Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Governor State Bank of Pakistan Jameel Ahmed, Shahzad Saleem and other relevant senior officials , the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the positive results witnessed in the initiation of various projects in the IT sector during their previous tenure.
He emphasized on solving all the problems faced by startups, freelancers and IT companies related to banking. He expressed satisfaction with the volume of IT exports in the current year amounting to more than 3 billion USD and highlighted its further increase. He noted that consistent efforts are needed to bring Pakistan’s IT sector up to international standards.
Also read: Pakistan aims for large IMF loan
the prime minister also asked for a comprehensive report on special technology zones. The meeting was briefed on the progress on the IT package announced by the Prime Minister in June 2023. Due to the special attention given by Prime Minister Sharif during the previous tenure, IT exports have seen a 13% increase in the first seven months of the current fiscal year compared to 2023. to the previous corresponding year.
A total of 4 million students from 17 groups, including 28% women, have been trained under the Digiskills programme. Pakistan has emerged as the second best country in the world for the number of freelancers. In addition, Pakistan exports IT products to 170 countries of the world.
The meeting was informed that an investment of $400 million had been made in Pakistani startups during the previous year. The Prime Minister directed the necessary legal and political steps to attract investment and boost IT exports. He also called for the acceleration of work on projects aimed at strengthening the vocational and technical education of the youth, so that the potential in the IT sector can be fully exploited. The meeting was also briefed on the progress in IT, E-Rozgar, startups, cyber security, telecom sector and 5G launch.
