ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman Thursday said every possible effort was being made to enhance the growth of the IT Industry in the country at top priority, which the current government had assigned to the sector from day one.
While addressing the 38th meeting of the Board of Directors of Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), the minister said that the IT industry was growing in terms of the number of companies, revenue, exports, and workforce every year, thereby demonstrating clear confidence in the ability of local companies to deliver IT solutions and services which met expectations of foreign clients.
The meeting was convened to review various initiatives undertaken to accelerate the growth of the IT sector between 2018-21.
The board discussed the proposals at length which would take Pakistan’s IT and ITeS industry to the next phase of growth.
“Pakistan’s IT and ITeS Sector has developed phenomenally due to our strenuous constant efforts and generous incentives and facilitation granted to the sector which include income tax exemption on IT exports till June 2019, 100 per cent foreign ownership, 100 per cent repatriation of capital and dividends, 3-year tax exemption for IT startups, and tax holidays for venture capital funds till June 2024.”
She said that Pakistan’s growth rate of IT and ITeS exports had jumped 150 per cent over the last five years, which was a remarkable achievement.
The board was apprised that a 15 per cent increase had been witnessed in the number of call centers during last one year.
The minister said, “Although we have achieved our major targets but there is much more to do to enhance IT company’s representation from Pakistan at the international fora.”
She directed PSEB management to have more coordination with all stake holders to enhance the country’s participation in key international events to enhance the contribution of its IT sector’s economy through foreign exchange earnings and job creation, and take all possible measures to brand Pakistan as an ideal IT destination for IT outsourcing.
Federal Secretary IT Aamir Ashraf Khawaja, Member Telecom Mudassar Hussain, Member IT Syed Raza Shah, Chairman Pasha Barkan Saeed, Acting MD PSEB Syed Ali Abbas Hasani and other board members were also present in the meeting.
