400 start-ups to display products at IT conference

Event will promote use of technology in all aspects of life

LAHORE: The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB)’s entrepreneurship wing is holding a two-day international IT conference in Lahore titled “The MIX” on November 11 and 12 to showcase the work of 400 commercially successful and viable start-ups.

This was announced by Information Technology University (ITU) Punjab Vice Chancellor, PITB Chairman and Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Umar Saif at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Saif believed that the event would bring technology to the average Pakistani and inspire people to join debate for the future.



“Intersection of history, culture and media with technology would be the focus while the role of technology in journalism will also be discussed to assess the impact of news on web and its monetisation,” he added.

He pointed out that the event was being structured around the use of technology in all aspects of life and was supposed to be a technology and cultural festival to give Pakistanis an opportunity to initiate important discussion on the use of technology.

While highlighting PITB’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship, Saif recalled that five years ago the Punjab government established the Plan9 start-up incubator and provided rent-free space at Arfa Tower. It nurtured 160 start-ups in the incubator, which received investment of Rs380 million, provided 800 jobs and generated Rs360 million in revenues per annum.



“Twenty Pakistani companies have showcased their products in the US while the federal government, provinces and countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are replicating our start-up model,” he said.

He emphasised that PITB’s flagship project had established seven centres in various districts to monetise technical, non-technical and creative skills of youth to “empower them through self-employment, generate foreign exchange to the tune of $1 billion by earning $30 per day and add to the existing software exports of $2.5 billion per annum”.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2017.

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