Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Ismail Shah has said that government is working on introducing mobile banking and e-government applications in the country, which would have positive impact on the overall economy, besides providing improved telecom services to consumers.
Speaking as chief guest at the first RCCI-Information and Commission Technology (ICT) Awards distribution ceremony organised by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Wednesday, he said that after the auction of next generation (3G/4G) in the country enormous improvement had been observed in telecom services. Telecom tele-density reached to about 80 percent, he added.
He said that the de-regulation of telecom sector helped in bringing new telecom players into the market and resultantly FDI grew enormously. He further said that the government was working on introducing mobile banking, e-government applications which would have positive impact on overall economy.
Ismail Shah said that it was the first ever effort by any Chamber to organise such event and Rawalpindi Chamber must be admired for this tremendous endeavour. He said that private sector should come forward for the promotion of ICT industry as there are huge investment opportunities for both local and foreign investors. He was of the view that ICT is the biggest industry of the future and it is need of the hour to create awareness among masses about the benefits of the industry.
In the awards ceremony 13 awards in different categories were given after the recommendation of a group of independent panellists. Wi-Tribe won Internet Service Provider of the year Award, NADRA received excellence in E-Governance, CMPAK (Zong), got Excellence in Telecommunication, Webiz Media get Best Infotainment Award, Excellence in ICT Education given to Learn Bots, Excellence in E-Health was received by CureMD HealthCare, Excellence in Software Export was given to NetSol Techonologies, Domestic Revenue Award was received by InfoTech, RCCI technology Innovation Award was presented to TechArete, RCCI ICT Company of the Year Award goes to TeReSol, Top BPO Company Award was won by M/s TRG, Regional Recognition Award went to CleanTouch Software Corp and ICT Implementation Award went to Auto Soft Dynamics. Media award was give to Aaj and Business Recorder.
Earlier, President RCCI Syed Asad Mashadi in his welcome speech said that ICT industry had market share of $2.8 billion in Pakistan but no step was being taken from the government side to promote the industry. He said that twin cities had 40 percent share of the total business of ICT in the country as many multinational companies had established their offices there.
Mashadi said that basic purpose behind organising ICT Awards was to highlight the efforts of individuals and companies for the betterment of the industry and the country. He said that this award show was organised with the support of Rawalpindi Chamber, Islamabad Stock Exchange, Pakistan Software Houses Association and Pakistan Software Export Board and all the arrangements have been done in this regard.
Chairman RCCI standing committee on ICT Raja Omer Iqbal said that Rawalpindi and Islamabad was the hub of ICT industry and that's why RCCI took this initiative to promote the industry.