Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS
“The regulatory authority will work to examine benchmarks of IT education for the youth in line with international standards,” Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told journalists at the 16th NTC All Pakistan Inter-Regional Badminton Tournament, sponsored by Huawei Technologies Pakistan.
The current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is striving to increase overall exports of the country with particular focus on the IT sector.
Total annual exports of the country came down to $19 billion at one time during the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s tenure from around $25 billion earlier. The trade deficit has also widened significantly due to hefty imports.
According to data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the export of IT and IT-related services went up to $1.067 billion in financial year 2017-18 compared with $939 million in the previous year, registering a double-digit growth of 13%.
Experts point out that Pakistan’s 60% population is below 30 years of age and the IT sector has a huge potential to provide them with job opportunities and increase exports.
“This is the world of digitalisation and the government wants to impart IT education to the youth in line with international standards,” Siddiqui remarked, adding that the regulatory authority would achieve that purpose.
He emphasised that the government was also trying to close all avenues of smuggling in order to create an environment conducive for legal business in the country.
Replying to a question, the IT minister said the government was planning to introduce 5G technology in Pakistan and initial steps would be finalised in the next few days.
Earlier, during the PML-N tenure, the cabinet had approved the launch of 5G technology with a directive to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to start testing the technology in the market before its commercial availability after 2020.
About the renewal of licences of telecom operators, Siddiqui said the government was to renew the licences in May this year. “The renewal will help generate additional revenue,” he added.
The minister pointed out that the government wanted the mobile phone companies to set up manufacturing plants in Pakistan, adding that some incentives would be offered in order to create a favourable environment for investment.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2019.
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