Islamabad: Caretaker Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr. Umar Saif highlighted potential of IT industry in reducing country's trade imbalances.

Minister asserted in an interview with private TV channel that IT industry had trade surplus of almost 80 percent, making it an appropriate focus for expanding nation's economy. He stressed that IT sector's untapped potential may make substantial contribution to growth of national economy.

Dr. Saif emphasised that current value of Pakistan's IT exports was $ 2.6 billion, creating jobs for almost 150,000 people in industry. He pointed out that current average wage for software professionals was between $ 17,000 and $ 18,000 per year, compared to $ 30,000 for their Indian colleagues.

While discussing academic environment, he disclosed that just 2,000 to 2,200 of 20,000 to 22,000 IT graduates generated by Pakistani universities found employment. He spoke of competence gap that frequently falls short of international standards.

He emphasised need for cooperation between Pakistani IT experts and universities to bridge this talent gap. Dr. Saif suggested that various IT firms send funds overseas of which sizeable portion may be returned to Pakistan by giving them incentives. Minister estimates that these incentives might increase nation's revenue by $ 1 to $ 2 billion.

He mentioned Pakistan's amasing usage of 190 million mobile phones, which places it as seventh-largest mobile phone market in world. He supported government's initiative to encourage domestic manufacturing of low-cost, high-quality mobile phones.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 30 2023

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