Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday said that with a focus on training of human resource as per contemporary needs, enabling environment and by imbibing the spirit of entrepreneurship in the youth, the true potential of Pakistan’s IT sector could be achieved.
“This will turn-around and uplift our economy in short to medium term, Inshallah… I assure you of the government’s full support to help you explore the untapped potential in Pakistan’s IT sector,” he said addressing a Tech Destination Pakistan event which featured the launch of E-Rozgar Centers in the country.
He said the government through its Digital Policy envisioned bringing economic prosperity and citizen empowerment through digital transformation as it was working on the vision of “Digital Pakistan” through multiple cross-sectoral digital transformation initiatives.
He said the government was taking every step possible to facilitate IT sector by creating an enabling environment and an ecosystem through a broad range of legislative, policy, regulatory and operational initiatives with a focus on inclusion to help reap the full benefits of digitalization.
He said the IT sector was the government’s focus for achieving a sustainable economic development and realize the full potential of technological advancement. The prime minister said that Pakistan had experienced significant growth in the information and communication technology sector in recent years.
The country’s ICT industry has become an important contributor to the economy, generating revenue, attracting FDI and creating jobs, he added.
“We are exporting IT and IT enabled services to more than 190 countries. Our IT industry is an integral part of the knowledge economy thereby earning its repute as a leading offshore outsourcing destination through innovation, availability of talent, government incentives and other initiatives for the IT sector. With over 90% Tele density, Pakistan was recently ranked as the 2nd most financially attractive destination in the world for offshore outsourcing of IT and IT enabled Services.
Pakistan was also ranked as the third most popular country for freelancing,” he said.
Prime Minister Kakar said the Special Investment Facilitation Council and its various committees had already started to deliver and perform their role in an active manner. Among other priority sectors, the inclusion of IT Sector under the umbrella of SIFC demonstrates the commitment of our government to further promoting the ICT industry. “We believe that development of IT sector will bring huge benefits to the nation. It will help in creating more employment opportunities, increase revenues, lift service sector exports and boost foreign reserves.”
He said that Pakistan with its talented and skilled human resource base, digital infrastructure, entrepreneurial spirit, and vision to digital transformation was all set to become a knowledge-based economy.
