PESHAWAR: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was inked between Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KP ITB) here Monday for a wide range of collaboration for the promotion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the province.

Under the MoU both the bodies will work together for the establishment of Software Technology Parks (STPs) in various districts of the province. Initially STPs will be established in nine districts of the province including Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Mardan, Kohat, DI Khan, Karak, Kohat and South Waziristan. STPs will also be established in other districts of the province in next phases.

A ceremony to this effect was held here in Chief Minister Secretariat on Monday with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan as chief guest. The event was attended by federal minister for Information Technology Aminul Haq, Advisor to Chief Minister KP on Information Technology, Ziaullah Bangash, Special Assistant to CM on Information Kamran Bangash and other relevant high ups.

Speaking on this occasion, the Chief Minister termed the promotion of IT sector in the province as one of the top priority areas of his government and said that the provincial government was making concerted efforts to extend maximum facilitation to the general masses, provide employment opportunities to the youth, ensure transparency in government business and to enhance the capacity of government departments by the effective use of Information Technology.

Mahmood Khan termed the signing of MoU between PSEB and KP ITB as an important development and expressed the hope that this collaboration will prove to be a milestone to promote IT industry and digital economy in the province.

As per the MoU, PSEB through its program will assist KPITB in enabling sustainable growth in the IT industry in the province and in developing the capacity of local entrepreneurs and freelancers in the province. Similarly, both the bodies will collaborate for enhancing academia-IT industry linkages for Universities and IT companies.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020