Govt to incentivise IT & telecom sector to achieve $5 billion export target in a year: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD, Oct 06 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the government is committed to facilitating the expansion and growth of IT sector. He said the IT and Telecom sector has great potential that needs to be unpacked, stating that the government will provide all the facilitation and policy support to address the problems to make it a robust sector of the country.

The Prime Minister said that the IT and Telecom sector should achieve a target of $5 billion within a year, adding that the government would extend its full support through a comprehensive package in consultation with the industry leaders.

The Prime Minister asked Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar to convene a meeting of the Task Force on his return from Washington and firm up the policy recommendations.

The plans, the Prime Minister said, are underway to strengthen the working of IT training and incubation centres, call centres, telcos, sovereign technology parks (STP), software houses and freelancing for exponential growth of this promising service sector.

The Prime Minister chaired a meeting of IT Task Force today to devise an aggressive strategy for the development of Information Technology & Telecom Sector in the country.

The Prime Minister was briefed that with a work force of around 40,000 IT professionals, Pakistan has a thriving IT & Telecom sector. With an annual IT exports of $2.6 Billion, it is the 4th largest freelancers’ market and the 3rd largest reseller on Amazon worldwide. it has around 195 Million mobile phone users with a growing mobile phone manufacturing capacity in the country.

The Prime Minister was briefed that in order to exploit its full growth potential, a rigorous perception building and marketing campaign is direly needed to position Pakistan as IT outsourcing hub in the world, especially for all potential IT export destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Moreover, a comprehensive package to ease SBP, FBR and SECP regulations for IT & Telecom sector is also need of the hour.

The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to take all possible measures for the promotion and growth of IT & Telecom sector in the country.

The meeting was attended by IT Minister Syed Aminul Haque, Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, MOS for Finance Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, Advisor to PM Ahad Khan Cheema, SAPM on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja, representatives of the IT and Telecom sector and senior government officers.