Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced a significant boost in Pakistan’s IT exports, which have surged to $286 million in July of the current financial year.
The update was shared during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which focused on the progress of IT sector projects, including the Islamabad IT Park and Digital Smart Cities.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Information Technology, Minister Shaza attributed this impressive growth to the current government’s concerted efforts to enhance the IT sector’s global competitiveness.
Read here: 'Internet slowdown in Pakistan due to use of VPNs'
She highlighted Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s dedication to advancing the sector.
During the huddle, the premier expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Islamabad IT Park project, which is crucial for bolstering the country’s IT exports.
The completion timeline for the park has been expedited from June 2025 to February 2025, thanks to the accelerated efforts of the Korean company involved in the project. The construction is now running around the clock, with regular inspections by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
RELATED: Decision to install firewall was taken by PTI govt
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that the Islamabad IT Park will play a pivotal role in achieving the target of $25 billion in IT exports. He described the park as a key milestone in the government's strategy to boost the IT sector and support economic growth.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of Digital Smart Cities, with Islamabad set to launch a pilot project. This initiative will provide citizens with access to 150 services through the Islamabad City Super application, covering areas such as health, education, and law enforcement.
Mr Sharif also urged the public to embrace mobile applications for accessing government services.
Over the past five months, the IT sector has seen substantial growth, with exports rising by 30%. The government’s efforts have led to the registration of 300,000 students in IT skills programs and the establishment of four new incubation centres.
Additionally, mobile phone production has increased by 30%, and the number of mobile users has grown by 800,000.
Officials reported that investments in various IT projects, totalling $77 million, are expected to generate an additional $2.5 billion in IT exports. The broader goal includes $10 billion from digital transformation, $2 billion from the telecom sector, and $13 billion from government initiatives.
