Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized Pakistan’s potential to increase IT exports by over $25 billion through better resource utilization and enhanced workforce training. He outlined this vision during a review meeting on IT sector reforms in Islamabad.
The Prime Minister directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to create a roadmap for providing international-standard education and training to the country’s youth. He also highlighted the rising demand for Pakistani IT professionals in Gulf countries and called for the swift implementation of related proposals.
Clear Goals for IT Growth
Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need for specific targets and timelines to drive IT export growth. He announced the creation of a committee to oversee the reforms and promote collaboration between institutions to reach these objectives.
Ambitious Five-Year Plan
Officials presented an ambitious five-year plan, with key targets including:
- Growing IT sector exports to $15 billion
- Generating $1 billion from telecom exports
- Achieving $10 billion from digitization efforts
- Improving IT and e-governance rankings
The meeting also highlighted Pakistan’s significant progress in its global e-governance ranking, which rose by 14 spots. Additionally, 2,500 new IT companies have been registered, boosting the country’s IT industry ranking from 79th to 40th.
Support for Freelancers and Remittances
The session also addressed plans to facilitate remittances for IT professionals, particularly freelancers. PM Shehbaz praised the proposed international payment gateway initiative and urged its prompt implementation to support young entrepreneurs.
Telecom Sector Reforms
The meeting concluded with a briefing on proposed telecom sector reforms, marking an essential step towards strengthening Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and enhancing its global IT competitiveness.
