'ICT sector booming in Pakistan'

Rana Tanveer tells session in Bangkok that the sector recorded 41% growth in recent years

ISLAMABAD: The broadband penetration rate has increased from 3% to 15% and mobile broadband services are now available across 200 cities in the country, said Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain.

According to a press release of the ministry of science and technology, the minister was addressing the 72nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) held in Bangkok which started on May 15 and will conclude on May 19.



The commission meets annually at the ministerial level to discuss and review economic and social issues for strengthening regional cooperation, the press release said.

“Pakistan has been a leading country in information and communication technologies. IT remittances have grown up to 41% as compared to the previous years,” said Hussian. “The IT industry is considered a successful sector, as it contributed Rs126.30 billion to the exchequer in 2014,” he further said.

Hussian informed the participants that the IT investments in Pakistan have also increased to $5.1 billion and the sector has been generating jobs with the emergence of new technologies in ICT.



Later, he informed the participants that Pakistan has prepared a National Research Agenda –2016 to align the national research and development and innovation activities with the global sustainable development goals in national context.

Hussian said the agenda has been formulated in line with the vision 2025 which identifies 14 priority areas vital for national growth and development. He urged all the member states to move towards global and regional partnerships bound by the principles of openness, inclusivity and collaboration.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2016.