Ericsson Pakistan discusses digitalization and skill development in a meeting with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication

Karachi, 24th December 2021: Ericsson Pakistan and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications held a meeting yesterday to discuss digitalization, skill development and training for engineers in line with the vision of Digital Pakistan. Ericsson Pakistan showed keen interest to deploy advanced networks as well as scaling up the Near Shore Centre to create job opportunities for engineers in Pakistan.

Syed Amin Ul Haque, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, says: “Strong measures are underway for connectivity in urban and rural areas of the country. Pakistan is the mega-market of technology and there is great potential in our youth. We are committed to supporting Ericsson Pakistan in achieving the digital objectives as per the vision of Digital Pakistan.“

Ekow Nelson, Chairperson of Ericsson Pakistan at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “Ericsson is committed to expansion and diversification to bring investment and the best technology to Pakistan in line with the vision of Digital Pakistan. The successful meeting with the Ministry is promising and we are looking forward to the future of technological advancement in the country.”

Present at the meeting, Secretary of IT & Telecom discussed the regulatory and financial business models and policies for ease of conducting business. Also present at the meeting was Member Telecom who briefed about the investment areas of technological advancement and the telecoms ecosystem in Pakistan.

Rs. 3 Billion Worth of New Projects in the Next Fiscal Year – MoIT

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT) came up with four new projects of the Special Communication Organization (SCO) under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2016-17, against a demand of Rs. 1146.8 million, according to documents, and an estimated cost of Rs. 2766.9 million.

A demand of Rs.1.333 billion for the 9 new schemes for 2016-17 was made by Ministry which includes:

IT Capacity Building of Federal Government Employees (NITB)-Rs 20 million
Replication of e-Health Services at Federally Administrative hospitals (NITB)-Rs 20 million
Research Studies and Updations for ICT Industry- Rs 51 million
IT Industry Support Programs (PSEB)-Rs 37.264 million
Expansion of Broadband Internet Services in AJ&K Phase-II (SCO)-Rs 44-4 million
Expansion of Broadband Internet Services in GB Phase-II (SCO)-Rs 32.5 million
Replacement of GSM Network of AJ&K (Project no. III/2011-2012)-Rs 580 million
Provision of Seamless GSM Coverage along KKH for Proposed Gawadar-Kashighar Economic Corridor in Gilgit-Baltistan (Project I/2014-2015) GB (SCO)-Rs 489 million
Feasibility Study and Consultancy for development of Information Technology (IT) Park at Karachi-Rs 58.287 million.

A proposal of Rs. 2457.832 million was put forward by the MoIT under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the year 2016-17 against the Rs. 922.804 marked for the current financial year. Also, two new projects for National Information Technology Board and one of Pakistan Software Development Board were proposed but none for MoITT IT wing and MoIT Telecom wing were proposed in the coming PSDP.

The PSDP for the coming fiscal year 2016-17 was prepared and sent to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology for consideration and recommendation with respect to MoIT and its connected departments, which is a mandate for discussion, proposals and passed by end March.

The proposed layout of PSDP for fiscal year 2016-17 is Rs 2457.832 million against 20 schemes relating to IT & Telecom sectors including 11 old/ongoing and nine new projects.

The government has earmarked Rs 922.804 million including Rs 722.804 million local component and Rs 150 million foreign component. However the data of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms shows that Rs 1342.549 million has so far been released to IT and Telecom ministry including Rs 1144.5 million foreign aid and Rs 198 million local component.

The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms does not show the foreign component however, according to the Economic Affaires Division China has released Rs 1144.5 million for construction of cross- border optical fiber cable (OFC) system between China and Pakistan for international connectivity of voice / data traffic under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The government however released no amount against the replication of e-office (basic common applications) at 45 divisions of federal government, research & development unit (Islamabad) and technology parks development project at Islamabad projects.

After getting the passage from standing committee, the proposed PSDP would be presented before the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms for final consideration.

To Attract Foreign Investment, MoIT and PSEB Launch Documentary.

It’s a long way of the Pakistan’s information technology industry. A wide breath of human talent boasting our country evidently by the thriving startup culture and IT prodigies. As per the recent report Pakistani IT exports crossed $2 billion dollars with an annual growth rate of 41%, Now it is poised to grow target to grow to $10 billion in the next 4 years.

There is a need to attract Foreign Investors, and MoIT and PSEB are also aware of this:

To make Pakistan an attractive place to invest in the 21st century, MoIT (The Ministry of information technology) and PSEB (Pakistan Software Export Board) are cognizant of this and rolled out the incentives for the investors which give a great return on investment of this region. Foreign IT companies has an advantage by investing here can have the talent and human resources of Pakistan and also the skilled pool of technology workers. Pakistan’s figures for a rising populace that connected more than ever with 3G/4G telecommunications technology, also rapidly improving Pakistan’s ICT infrastructure .

The below documentary developed by MoIT and PSEB serves as a primer for Pakistan’s investor-friendly IT sector which showing an outline Pakistan’s attarctiveness as an investment destination.

https://www.facebook.com/babarzahoor/videos/10204592417881783/

Without mistake Pakistan’s IT industry set for a boom. To make Pakistan a top destination for global IT giants, now its time to take this as a challenge by Government and private sector to join hands and do all possible things to achieve it. As we go forward into digital future investing in human capital and infrastructure development are considered as top priorities.