Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has given his nod to an extensive plan aimed at developing the Information Technology and Telecom (ITV) sector.
Minister for Information Technology Dr. Umar Saif has been directed to collaborate with various key ministries and entities, including finance, commerce, energy, State Bank, and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Dr. Umar Saif presented the comprehensive plan during a meeting with the interim Prime Minister. He commended Umar Saif’s efforts, and an important meeting addressing the matter followed.
Kakar further announced that the Special Investment Facilitation Council would be helpful in achieving the goals of enhancing IT sector investments, digitising government services nationwide, and addressing issues encountered by freelancers. Furthermore, he pledged to ensure the provision of internationally acclaimed education and IT skills in all universities.
During the briefing, the IT minister emphasized that with the removal of barriers, IT exports could surge from $2.6 billion to $10 billion, resulting in a $5 billion increase in exports.
He said that the efforts are underway to facilitate access to loans for IT startups, and it is anticipated that foreign investments of up to $1 billion will flow into the IT sector within the next six months. Additionally, initiatives are being pursued to bring renowned payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe to Pakistan.
