As investment rises, IT exports surge to $2.6b

Govt invests Rs77b in connectivity to promote e-business

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s information technology exports have increased to $2.6 billion from the earlier level of less than $1 billion recorded in 2020, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Aminul Haque announced on Tuesday.

He said that investments of $7.1 billion had been made in the telecommunication sector and a good amount was also earned through the telecom industry, which was quite encouraging.

Speaking at an MoU signing ceremony for establishing a health incubator and a science and technology park at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, the minister called the MoU with ICCBS a good initiative for the future generation. He pointed out that a total of eight National Incubation Centres had been established in Pakistan.

Responding to a request of Karachi University Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, Haque announced that the varsity’s examination centre would be digitalised and he also endorsed the setting up of a medical college in the university.

Highlighting the steps taken under the “Digital Pakistan” vision, the minister informed the audience that the federal cabinet and 44 ministries had been made paperless while the Sindh government would be digitalised soon. He emphasised that his ministry had focused on three key points which included connectivity, skills development and an IT-friendly policy.

The government has invested Rs77 billion in connectivity to facilitate people so they could smoothly perform their tasks and engage in e-business.

It has also got the smartphone manufacturing bill passed from the National Assembly and currently 28 companies are producing mobile phones in the country including big names like Samsung and Nokia.

“It’s a big achievement that search engine Google has opened its office in Pakistan,” the IT minister mentioned, adding that Google provided 15,000 scholarships to Pakistani students last year and this year it was providing 45,000 scholarships.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2023.

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