Dr. Umar Advocates Revolutionary IT Measures for Economic Stability
Karobar
Caretaker Information Technology Minister, Dr. Umar Saif, emphasized the transformative potential of IT measures in stabilizing the economy during an IT seminar on Wednesday, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
Dr. Saif highlighted the significant efforts of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in driving the country's development. He underscored the collaborative nature of SIFC's forum, bringing together civil and military leadership along with stakeholders to work in unison.
One of the major announcements involved the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) establishing Special Technology Zones in both the North and South districts of Karachi within a two-year timeframe.
In a tweet, Dr. Saif revealed three landmark decisions made by the cabinet in the IT and telecom sectors. The National Space Policy aims to facilitate private-sector companies in providing affordable internet services in Pakistan, simultaneously encouraging increased investment in the national space program.
The cabinet today approved three landmark decisions for the IT and Telecom sector:
1. National Space Policy which will enable private-sector companies to offer affordable internet services in Pakistan, while enabling increased investment in our national space program.
2.… — Umar Saif (@umarsaif) December 13, 2023
Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is set to replace FIA for handling cyber crimes. Dr. Saif emphasized that the new agency would possess the essential expertise, funding, and resources to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute cyber crimes in Pakistan.
Additionally, a Telecom Tribunal is on the horizon, aiming to expedite the resolution of court cases and disputes in the telecom sector. This move is expected to pave the way for the swift availability of the 5G spectrum.
Highlighting Pakistan's standing on the global stage, Dr. Saif mentioned that Pakistan is the second most financially attractive IT & ITeS outsourcing destination globally, according to Kearney’s Global Services Location Index. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has also ranked Pakistan as the third-largest supplier of digital labor, encompassing various services such as clerical & data entry, creative & multimedia, professional services, sales & marketing support, software development & technology services, and writing and translation services. In the specific domain of software development & technology services, Pakistan holds the second position as a digital labor supplier according to the ILO.
