ISLAMABAD
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the development and promotion of IT sector is an area of priority for the government.
He said this while witnessing contract signing of the Broadband for Sustainable Development Projects in Balochistan and establishment of National Incubation Centres in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar.
Minister of State for IT Anusha Rahman Khan, secretary IT, senior officials of ministry of IT, diplomats and senior executives for IT and telecom companies were also present on the occasion.
The Sustainable Development Projects in Baluchistan are worth Rs 2.769 billion in total, awarded by Universal Service Fund to Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (Ufone). The contract signed between USF and Ufone marks the launch of mobile broadband internet/3G Services by Ufone in Dera Bugti and Kharan-Washuk in the province of Baluchistan.
It was followed by a contract signing ceremony for establishment of National Incubation Centres in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. The contracts were signed between National ICT R&D Fund and TPL Trakker, LUMS and LMKT, respectively.
The Broadband for Sustainable Development projects would provide mobile broadband internet and 3G services in the yet un-served areas of Dera Bugti Lot (District of Dera Bugti includes Tehsils of Dera Bugti, Sui, Pir Koh, Baiker, Loti, Malam, Sangsillah and district of Kohlu comprises Kohlu, Mawand, Kahan tehsils), consisting of 396 un-served mauzas with population of 333,100, and Kharan-Washuk Lot (District of Kharan includes Kharan Tehsil and Distrcit of Washuk comprises Washuk and Besima Tehsil), consisting of 289 un-served mauzas in Balochistan with population of 222,000.
Speaking on the occasion, the finance minister said that the development and promotion of Pakistan’s IT sector is an area of priority for the present government. He congratulated the ministry of IT, USF, National ICT RD Fund, and all stakeholders involved in the aforementioned contract signings.
He said that the Broadband for Sustainable Development Projects in Baluchistan would enable the increase of broadband coverage in the country. He further stated that the establishment of the National Incubation Centres would assist in channeling the entrepreneurial drive amongst young graduates of the nation.
The Minister said that government has announced special incentives for the IT sector in the budget for FY 2017-18. He highlighted that the government is setting up an IT Park in Islamabad with the assistance of Korean EXIM Bank. He also said that IT export houses and companies shall be allowed to open Foreign Exchange Accounts in Pakistan, while going forward.
He highlighted that start-up software houses shall be exempted from income tax for the first 3 years, and that exports of IT services from Islamabad and other Federal territories shall be exempted from sales tax. He said that, in addition to IT companies, these incentives will also be available for IT-enabled services.
Minister for IT Anusha Rehman, said that the government is striving to increase the level of telecom penetration significantly in the under-served and un-served areas. She said that the launch of the National Incubation Centres in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar is yet another important milestone in the government’s digital agenda.
She highlighted that a National Incubation Centre has already been established in Islamabad. She further said that a comprehensive national level technical training program for freelancers is also being launched this year which will train approximately 1 million freelancers within the span of 2 years.
She highlighted that a nation-wide “ICT for Women Entrepreneurship Development Program” has already been launched to tap the entrepreneurial potential of Pakistani women. She said that the program will train a total of 500 women from across the country.
