Steps afoot to boost IT investment: Kakar

Interim PM wants policies to attract technology experts to country

ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Wednesday said the interim government was taking steps to boost foreign investment in the information technology sector.

“Positive progress has already been made for this purpose,” Kakar maintained while chairing the 5th meeting of the Special Technology Zones Authority’s board of governors.

The interim premier directed the relevant authorities to chalk out the required policies to attract international IT experts to the country.

Kakar highlighted that the information technology could play a vital role in strengthening Pakistan’s economy as the country had a huge potential in this sector.

During the huddle, various matters related to the Special Technology Zones Authority came under discussion.

The participants of the meeting endorsed the decisions concluded during the 4th meeting of the Special Technology Zones Authority’s board of governors.

They further approved the restructuring of the finance, audit and technical committees of the authority’s board of governors.
Furthermore, they also gave the nod to the presentation of drafts of the authority’s licensing framework, procedures and face regulations before the technical committee.

Federal secretaries of the cabinet, finance, information technology, science and technology; chief secretaries of all the provinces and other board members attended the meeting.

Separately, the interim premier underscored the significance attached by Pakistan to fraternal ties with the Muslim world, particularly with countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

He said these ties were anchored in mutual trust, understanding and close cooperation on bilateral as well as regional matters of common interest.

Kakar expressed these views over a lunch with the resident ambassadors of Muslim countries from the MENA region.

According to a news statement issued by the PM’s Office Media Wing, the meeting was attended by the ambassadors of Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The caretaker foreign minister, secretary to the interim PM and foreign secretary were also present on the occasion.

The caretaker premier shared Pakistan’s perspective on a number of issues, particularly the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Other challenges confronting the Muslim world including Islamophobia were also discussed.

Kakar emphasised the need for the Muslim world to continue working closely and collectively, especially through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to deal with these complex matters.

He also praised the ambassadors for their efforts to forge stronger ties between Islamabad and their respective capitals.

The ambassadors thanked the interim prime minister and reiterated their support towards advancing bilateral relations with Pakistan, which played a key role in the Muslim world.