ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
PSEB’s Board approved to enhance the volume of the Prime Minister’s internship programme and approved to provide internship to three thousand IT graduates including 30% female graduates yearly. These interns will be placed at IT companies, IT Departments of Telecom Sectors companies, Banks and other such Organizations. So that IT graduates develop the skill set to increase their employability potentials. Duration of the Internship will be 6 months. It was decided in 31st board of Directors meeting which was chaired by Minister of State for IT Mrs. Anusha Rahman here in Islamabad today. Federal Secretary IT, Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha, MD PSEB, Asim Shahryar Husain, Chairman PTA Dr. Ismail Shah, Member Telecom Mudassar Hussain, Member HR/IT Tahir Mushtaq, Chairman @PASHA, Syed Ahmad, and representatives from TDAP were also present in the meeting.
The Board expressed its concerns on sales taxes being levied by the provincial governments on IT Companies considering that IT exports revenue is exempt from taxes at present. A four member committee comprising of Member IT, Member Legal, MD PSEB and Chairman @Pasha has been constituted and mandated to look in to the “taxation issue” immediately. The Committee will submit its report with recommendations to the Ministry for consideration. A formal legal opinion in this regard will also be sought through the Ministry of Law and Justice as well.
The Minister also directed MD PSEB to develop a new interactive website which should highlight the benefits of investing in Pakistan’s IT industry by incorporating necessary details of all IT companies which are registered with PSEB and that it should be updated on a regular basis.
MD PSEB mentioned that PSEB is working closely with STEPI Korea to complete feasibility study for a new state-of-the-art IT park in Islamabad by February 2016. The Minister directed PSEB to conclude signing the loan agreement with Korean government by summer of 2016.