PM drops in on Capital IT Park

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day, paid a special visit to the under-construction Technology Park here, expressing strong displeasure over the slow pace of work and directing authorities to accelerate its completion.

This was the Prime Minister's third inspection of the project, which was originally scheduled to be completed by March 23, 2025, but has faced delays, a Prime Minister's Office news release said.

He reprimanded the concerned officials on-site, stressing that the park must be completed within the revised timeline while meeting international quality standards.

"Ensure the provision of world-class facilities and double your efforts to finish this project as per the original instructions," the Prime Minister told the project managers.

The IT Park, consisting of two underground floors, a ground floor, and nine upper floors, will feature office spaces, an incubation center, a business support center, R&D laboratories, a Level III data center, an auditorium, and parking for 1,200 vehicles. It is expected to create employment opportunities for youth, boost economic growth, enhance Pakistan's global IT competitiveness, and bridge the digital divide.

Bangladesh

PM Shehbaz on Friday reiterating Pakistan's desire to enhance trade and people-to-people contacts with Bangladesh, called for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in political, economic, and cultural spheres.

The prime minister, in a meeting with High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan, who paid a courtesy call on him, expressed satisfaction over the growing engagement between Pakistan and Bangladesh across various domains.

While recalling his "warm and productive" interactions with Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Dr. Mohammad Yunus, including their last meeting in Cairo on the margins of the D-8 Summit last December, he expressed satisfaction at the revival of various bilateral mechanisms between the two sides.