President sees IT exports upto $5b by 2023

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said the IT sector of the country is growing fast and it has the potential to boost IT exports upto $5 billion by 2023.

President Dr Arif Alvi said the IT sector had a great potential but unfortunately it had so far been been ignored, adding that the present government was focusing on development of the IT sector by establishing special technological zones and giving tax concessions to the IT industry that would greatly contribute to the country’s economic development. The president said Pakistan has been progressing in every field and shifting its focus from geo-strategic to geo-economic hub that would significantly help in economic stability.

While addressing at the 1st Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s IT Awards ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Alvi said he underscored need for the training of IT graduates and youth to boost their skills to meet the country’s IT requirements. The president also highlighted that the developed world was making strides in the field of IT and Pakistan needed to adopt emerging technologies for growth. While praising the successful policy of the government with regard to containing Covid-19 pandemic, Alvi said the government exercised its policies wisely and made decisions on the basis of facts and figures. He also lauded the cooperation of religious scholars, who extended their wholehearted support to the government’s policy against the pandemic.

The president said the world was appreciative of the smart lockdown policy of the government and the financial support provided to the underprivileged communities through the Ehsaas programme. He stressed the business communities to invest in IT sector as it had immense potential to provide employment opportunities to the youth as well as boosting the exports of the country. Provincial Minister of Information Technology, Punjab Yasir Humayun and President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mian Tariq Misbah also addressed on the occasion.