Engineering Post Report
Information Technology has become a crucial facilitator in the development of a knowledge society and knowledge economy, playing a significant role in the country’s economic progress.
The federal government was actively pursuing the “Digital Pakistan Vision” to promote a digital economy, leading to economic prosperity and empowerment of citizens. It aims to enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of the people by .ensuring affordable, accessible and high quality IT services for all.
According to Kearney’s Global Services Location Index (2021), Pakistan ranked second globally as the most financially attractive location for offshore outsourcing of IT and ITeS.
As of March 2023, there were 5109 registered IT and ITeS companies under the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) representing exporters. During July 2022-March 2023 period , IT exports amounted to US $ 1.94 billion slightly lower than the previous year’s US $ 1.95 billion during the same period.
IT exports constituted the largest proportion (35.1 percent) of all services sector exports. In the first three-quarters of FY2023, Pakistani freelancers had contributed to foreign exchange earnings through remittances, with IT earning US $ 156.9 million and non-IT earning US $ 112.9 million totalling Us $ 269.8 billion .
During the same period, PSEB added seven Special Technology Parks to enhance infrastructure facilities across various cities in Pakistan., while IGNITE established eight National Incubation Centres( NICs) in different cities, supporting startups and women entrepreneurs. So far, NICs have quite successfully incubated over 660 startups out of 1317 creating more than 126000 jobs, attracting investments worth Rs 15.43 billion ( US $ 74 million) and generating combined revenue of Rs 9.13 billion.
As of March 2023, the total telecom subscriptions in Pakistan, including mobile and fixed lines, had reached 197 million, with a tele density of 83.2 per cent. The telecom sector had contributed approximately provisionally Rs 139 billion to the national exchequer during July-December FY2023. The future economic transformation of Pakistan, according to the experts, relies on harnessing, to the maximum extent possible, the potential of the IT and telecom sectors. In order to achieve this, key initiatives of the federal government included the establishment of special technology zones, expansion of broadband and 5G networks, promotion of e-commerce and e-governance platforms, enhancement of cyber security and data protection measures, and facilitation of foreign investment and collaboration.
