Islamabad, Feb 17: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has made significant strides in advancing Pakistan’s ICT infrastructure by establishing 43 Software Technology Parks (STPs) across various regions. These parks, set up through the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), are located in tier-II and III cities, providing a home for over 350 IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) companies. Currently, these parks employ approximately 18,000 professionals, with women comprising 20% of the workforce.
These technology parks play a vital role in the economy, generating annual foreign exchange earnings of $100 million and contributing $15 million in domestic revenue. Additionally, the government is investing heavily in the development of IT parks, with a new state-of-the-art park under construction in Karachi.
This park, covering 1.12 million square feet, is expected to be operational by 2027 and will create 13,400 new jobs while boosting IT exports by $90 million.
Another IT Park, being built in Islamabad, will span 720,000 square feet and is slated for completion by 2025. This $88.4 million initiative is anticipated to create 7,500 jobs and enhance IT exports by $70 million.
Further to these developments, the government has committed to launching 250 e-Rozgaar centers across Pakistan as part of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). This initiative, titled “Prime Minister’s Initiatives—Support for Startups, Specialized IT Trainings, and Venture Capital,” aims to empower 25,000 freelancers and entrepreneurs, with an expected revenue boost of $18 to $20 million. Fifty of these centers are set to open in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Read More:
Samsung Galaxy UI 7 Features: What’s New and Improved
In an effort to promote inclusivity, the first Women Technology Park in Pakistan is being developed in collaboration with Women University Bagh in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is scheduled to become operational by FY 2024-25. Additionally, the PSEB is partnering with the Special Communications Organization (SCO) and the Gilgit-Baltistan government to set up an STP in that region.
The government’s focus on strengthening the ICT sector is evident, with substantial growth recorded in exports. For instance, in the first five months of FY 2024-25, export remittances surged by 32.7% to $1.53 billion, up from $1.15 billion during the same period last year.
November 2024 alone saw a remarkable 25% increase in ICT exports compared to November 2023, with remittances reaching $324 million. Furthermore, the IT and ITeS sector achieved a trade surplus of $1.35 billion, marking a 36.5% rise from the previous year, contrasting with a trade deficit in Pakistan’s overall services sector.
These efforts underscore Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its ICT ecosystem, fostering innovation, and promoting job creation in the tech industry.
