IT exports: Practical steps should be taken on priority basis: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that practical steps should be taken on priority basis to increase IT exports.

While presiding over a meeting on the affairs of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom and the National Information Technology Board, the prime minister directed the Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) that there should not be any obstacles from the banks in the debit card and foreign currency issues of the exporters of the software products.

He also directed to take appropriate measures to improve the quality of 4G services in the country.

The prime minister directed that the Higher Education Commission, universities, and training institutes should work on priority basis to increase the number of IT professionals in the country.

He stressed the need to align the IT curriculum with the needs of the industry. He further directed to promote coordination between the government and the IT industry and to solve the problems of the IT industry immediately as well as the private sector should be consulted for the promotion of start-ups and provision of facilities to them.

The prime minister also instructed to form a special committee to evaluate the performance of the National Information Technology Board.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom on the action plan regarding the sectors of information technology and telecom.

The meeting was informed that by 2029, Pakistan's IT exports are targeted to reach $25 billion, while the tech services and captive IT business will be expanded to surpass this target.

The meeting was informed that the establishment of Pakistan Digital Commission is being implemented and the necessary legislation is being made in this regard besides automation of government-to-government, government-to-business transactions will bring innovation in health, education, agriculture, and other sectors.

The participants of the meeting were told that government affairs and economy will be digitised with the project called Pakistan Digital Nation.

The meeting was informed that the target of training 1.5 million people in the IT sector in the next five years has been set. Additionally, 0.2 million people will be trained in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cyber security in the next five years.

The meeting was informed that international certifications for IT professionals will be ensured through public-private partnership and master trainer programs will be launched for IT professionals. Additionally, the meeting was told that three IT parks and 250 e-employment centres will be established in the coming years.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom presented long-term, medium-term and short-term proposals regarding the development and promotion of the telecommunications sector.

The meeting was informed that the target is to take mobile broadband coverage to 100 Mbps while fibre penetration will be taken to 12 per cent. On the other hand, facilities will be provided for start-ups regarding health tech, artificial intelligence, financial tech, and agri-tech. Measures will be taken for tax exemption for start-ups.

Talking to the participants of the meeting, the prime minister said that Pakistan has a lot of potential in the field of information technology, which needs to be fully exploited. The tea industry should support the government to play its role in the country's economy. He said that Pakistani entrepreneurs have played a very important role in the promotion and development of the IT sector.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024