IT city to boost innovation: CM

PSEB, CBD vow to establish hub for entrepreneurship

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif IT City in Lahore will not only generate employment opportunities but also promote creative abilities among the youth.

“We need to utilise the strength of innovation for economic progress, social well-being, better utilisation of resources and creation of a stable society,” she said in a message on the Creativity and Innovation Day.

The chief minister added, “The Pakistani youth are enriched with creative abilities and can surprise the world through their creative abilities if they are provided government patronage.” She said the youth should explore new ideas and adopt innovation in all aspects of life. Education plays a fundamental role in creative abilities.

“If we want to progress among the comity of nations then we will have to encourage the creative abilities among our youth. The Punjab government would encourage and welcome creative thinking of the youth. Innovation provides creative abilities, exports and employment opportunities. Those countries which make investment in the latest research and development are progressing swiftly on the economic front,” she stated.

Highlighting the importance of creative abilities in finding solutions to problems, she stated, “We can make our products and services acceptable in the international market through creativity and innovation.”

The chief minister termed creative ability and innovation the cornerstone of progress and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to pave the way for establishing the Nawaz Sharif IT City.

According to a statement, pooling their resources, CBD Punjab and PSEB are committed to bolstering the global competitiveness of Punjab's IT sector and fostering sustainable growth within the province's burgeoning tech industry. Together, they aim to construct comprehensive databases encompassing entrepreneurs and freelancers state-wide, bolstering support systems and opportunities for local talent and positioning Punjab as a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The MoU signing ceremony saw the presence of Dima Yahya, Secretary General of the Digital Corporation Organisation, and Minister for State for IT and Communication Shiza Fatima Khawaja, alongside officials from CBD Punjab and PSEB.

The attendees witnessed the signing of the agreement by Imran Amin, CEO of CBD Punjab, and Humera Ayesha Moirani, CEO of PSEB.

CBD Punjab and PSEB pledged to strengthen the crucial link between academia and the IT industry. Through collaborative initiatives, they seek to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the evolving demands of the tech landscape, nurturing a symbiotic relationship that fuels innovation and talent development.

Additionally, PSEB will extend facilitative support to CBD Punjab in fostering collaborations between local IT enterprises, registered with PSEB, and their counterparts both domestically and internationally, facilitating knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and market expansion opportunities.

Addressing the ceremony, Imran Amin, CEO of CBD Punjab, hailed the MoU signing as a watershed moment in Punjab's quest to become a hub of technological innovation and economic prosperity.

He expressed gratitude to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for entrusting CBD Punjab with the establishment of Nawaz Sharif IT City.

Through strategic alliances with PSEB, CBD Punjab aspires to unleash the full potential of Punjab's IT ecosystem, fostering inclusive growth and prosperity for all stakeholders, he added.

“This partnership underscores the shared commitment of CBD Punjab and PSEB to cultivate an enabling environment for the growth and development of Punjab's IT industry,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2024.