Two software parks to be set up in Punjab

Secretary terms IT sector promotion top priority of govt

ISLAMABAD:

Two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed on Thursday for setting up software technology parks in Faisalabad and Rawalpindi in order to enhance growth of the IT industry in Pakistan.

During a meeting, it was revealed that the first-ever software technology park would be set up in Faisalabad at Sitara Chemical’s Ali Fatima College of Science and Technology with an area of 19,500 square feet.

Meanwhile, the software technology park in Rawalpindi will be set up at Amazon Outlet Mall covering an area of 44,000 square feet and will meet demand of the technology sector for setting up software technology parks in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.

Speaking on the occasion, IT Secretary Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said, “The IT industry is receiving top priority from the government to improve Pakistan’s economy, create jobs and lift the overall quality of life.”

Accordingly, the industry is being provided with strong government support and extremely attractive incentives.

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“There are several projects aimed at facilitating and assisting the IT industry in its growth and ensuring a continued upward momentum in domestic and export earnings,” he emphasised.

Siddiqui commended the performance of IT professionals and entrepreneurs for making Pakistan’s ICT industry a success story, by achieving a stellar growth in remittance inflows and making it the largest net exporter in the services sector of Pakistan.

He stressed the need for close liaison between the IT industry and public sector entities for ensuring a comprehensive growth of Pakistan’s IT sector.

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Managing Director Osman Nasir said that there was strong demand for software technology parks in the country.

In line with the booming IT industry, software technology parks are being set up under the public private partnership mode.

PSEB is also setting up software technology parks through the conversion of unused buildings into state-of-the-art technology parks.