The Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication (IT&T), Dr. Umar Saif, has shared ambitious ideas for the advancement of technology in Pakistan through a series of video messages. He said that the nation is preparing to auction off 300 MHz of spectrum and roll out 5G services by July or August of this year. In just five months, the caretaker administration has fulfilled 13 out of 15 targets in terms of advancing the IT industry and increasing exports, according to Dr. Saif, who expressed delight in the accomplishments.
Dr. Saif cites a regulatory adjustment that permits IT businesses to retain half of their export revenue in US dollars as one of their major accomplishments. In only the last 60 days, this action has increased IT exports by a noteworthy 32%. In order to swiftly settle conflicts in the telecom industry, he also suggested creating a specialised telecom tribunal.
Dr. Saif emphasised the need to match industrial demands with academic institutions. In order to achieve this, preparations are in place for the introduction of specialised industry courses at universities as well as a standardised quality exam for 75,000 IT graduates.
Regarding the request that independent contractors be paid via PayPal, Dr. Saif mentioned that developments are occurring in this domain. He also spoke about Pakistan’s first space policy, which would let foreign businesses use low-orbit satellites to provide communication services.
The construction of 10,000 e-Rozgar centres nationwide to assist entrepreneurs and independent contractors is another intriguing project. Modern facilities and technical assistance will be offered by these centres, which are expected to increase IT exports by $10 billion a year.
