ISLAMABAD: Syed Naveed Qamar, the federal minister of commerce, emphasized the significance of supporting the IT sector on Thursday.
He claimed that this sector is essential for boosting exports, which will help the nation’s economy. “IT is our future. The goal of increasing Pakistan’s exports would remain elusive if we don’t support the IT industry, the minister said in a Zoom meeting with Pak American IT professionals and entrepreneurs from the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Senior officers, Minister (Trade) Azmat Mahmood, Secretary Board of Investment Asad Gillani, Deputy Chief of Mission Syed Naveed Bokhari, and Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan were also present at the meeting. The participants made a number of recommendations to ensure that the country’s IT sector can grow and to improve Pak-US trade relations, particularly in the IT and tech sectors. The introduction of IT courses in schools and colleges, improved inter-ministerial coordination, digitalization, and the adoption of policies that could satisfy modern demands of IT professionals and tech-entrepreneurs were among them. Other initiatives included the simplification of tax regime for IT businesses, training and capacity building of IT professionals, simplification of processes for receiving funds, and introduction of IT subjects.
The minister welcomed their suggestions and reiterated that facilitating IT professionals and tech sector was the foremost priority of the government. He said that efforts were afoot to remove all impediments in way of growth of IT and tech sector in the country.
Naveed Qamar further said that strengthening Pak-US cooperation in IT sector was one of the major agenda items during ongoing Pak-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks.
The minister expressed the hope that the momentum generated by high-level talks to enhance trade and investment between the two countries would result in significant progress in all relevant areas including IT and tech sector.
