Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, presided over an important meeting regarding the promotion of exports in information technology, especially the IT sector.
Talking to the participants of the meeting, the Prime Minister said that, “Pakistan has alot of potential in the field of information technology, which needs to be fully exploited.”
He said that, “Pakistani entrepreneurs have played a very important role in the promotion and development of the IT sector. He further said that the exports of Pakistan’s IT sectors are very less compared to the talent and potential of the IT sector in Pakistan. The Prime Minister said that there is a need to work on a priority basis to increase the exports of the IT sector.”
The Prime Minister further said that, “such exporters who have contributed to substantial increase in IT exports would be appreciated at the government level.”
The meeting was told that Pakistan’s IT exports last year were 2.6 billion US dollars & efforts are being made to increase these exports to 5 billion US dollars this year as per the vision of the Prime Minister.
The meeting was informed that the highest IT exports are going to the United States of America which is 57% of the total IT exports.
In the briefing, it was further informed that Pakistan has the second-largest freelance workforce in the world, which the Pakistan Software Export Board is taking steps to increase its capacity. The meeting was informed that for the induction of new people in the IT industry, consideration is being given to starting two-year associate degree programs in IT in universities.
The meeting was told that artificial intelligence, cyber technology, chain and cloud technology are also part of the government’s priorities. To promote foreign investment in the IT sector in Pakistan, the Tech Destination Pakistan brand is being introduced worldwide.
The meeting was informed that the Federal Board of Revenue has set up help desks in Karachi, Lahore & Islamabad for the convenience of IT exporters, which are working under the headship of Commissioner IR level officer. All steps are being taken to provide facilities to more IT exporters.
The Prime Minister directed that the concerned ministers and officers should hold a detailed meeting with the IT exporters and take steps to solve all their problems on priority basis. The Prime Minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the current volume of IT exports and said that compared to the amount of talent and skills available in Pakistan regarding IT, the IT exports from Pakistan are quite low, which needs to be done on a priority basis to increase them. should be done and the future plan of action should be decided as soon as possible in this regard.
He further directed that communication between universities, academia and the IT industry should be improved.