IT parks set to become hubs of innovation

With digital growth going through a rapid evolution, Pakistan is inching towards establishing a vibrant network of state-of-the-art information technology (IT) parks to provide young professionals with a launching pad to execute their innovative ideas and contribute to the national economy efficiently.

"These parks are expected to not only generate employment opportunities for IT professionals but also attract millions of dollars in valuable foreign exchange, boost the IT industry, and increase exports once they are completed and fully operational," said an official of the Ministry of Information Technology.

He said the foundation stone of an IT park in Islamabad, assisted by Korea, was laid in Chak Shahzad to fulfil Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's 'Digital Pakistan' vision. While sharing the project details, he said, "Rs13.72 billion in projects is expected to address the infrastructure shortage in the IT sector. It will also facilitate technology transfer through industry and academia linkages, support technology commercialization, link tertiary education with production, promote research and development, and enhance IT exports and industry competitiveness."

According to the official, the Islamabad IT Park will consist of a twelve-story building (including two basements or ground floors plus ten stories) with a covered area of 66,893 square meters. "Initially, it will provide office space for around 120 start-ups and small to medium enterprises, along with other facilities such as testing laboratories, classrooms, an industry-academia linkage centre, and an auditorium," he said.

Under the Prime Minister's vision, all relevant institutions and departments are collectively working on various projects to elevate Pakistan's IT exports to the $25 billion mark.