Islamabad – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Monday that the completion of the Information Technology Park project in Islamabad would be a great milestone in increasing Pakistan’s exports in the IT sector. This project is seen as a major step towards achieving the ambitious target of $25 billion in IT exports.
During a meeting to review ongoing IT projects, digitisation efforts, and strategies to enhance IT exports, the Prime Minister showed that he is satisfied with the progress of the IT Park project. He instructed officials to explore ways to shorten the project’s timeline, in consultation with Korean experts. The meeting was attended by various ministers and senior officials, including Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, and Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
Project Progress and Digital Initiatives
The meeting was informed that construction on the IT Park is progressing rapidly, with the completion date moved up to February 2025 from the originally planned June 2025. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is actively monitoring the project site.
Additionally, the meeting discussed the launch of digital smart cities, starting with a pilot project in Islamabad. This initiative aims to provide residents with easy access to 150 government services through a City Super Application. The app will integrate services such as those from CDA, Islamabad Police, health, and education sectors. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of encouraging citizens to use this mobile app for accessing government services.
Growth in IT Sector and Future Goals
The meeting reviewed the performance of the IT sector over the past five months, noting a 30% increase in IT exports compared to the previous year. The government has also registered 300,000 students for IT skills training and established four new incubation centers. There has been a 30% rise in mobile phone manufacturing, and 800,000 new users have been added.
Prime Minister Pakistan appraised the collective efforts of various institutions and departments to reach the $25 billion IT export target. The government expects that with a $77 million investment in the IT sector, exports could grow rapidly and tremendously, contributing to $13 billion in foreign reserves, with additional revenue from digital transformation and the telecom sector.
Chinese Investment and Future Collaboration
In a separate meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed Chinese investment in Pakistan. He directed that 50% of all public sector cargo should be transported via Gwadar port. The meeting included a briefing on the visit of a Chinese delegation, which explored multiple opportunities for increased cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, IT, and infrastructure. The PM highlighted the importance of equal participation from students across all provinces in training programs in China.
These developments are part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance Pakistan’s IT capabilities and attract foreign investment. In short,this news is a source of hope and inspiration for Pakistan.
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