ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
The Honorable Minister of State for IT, Ms. Anusha Rehman, chaired the 30th meeting of the Board of Directors of Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) to assess the state of the IT industry of Pakistan and to evaluate the steps being taken to bolster long term growth of the IT Industry, to boost IT exports, and to attract investment in the IT Sector. Secretary IT, Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha, MD PSEB, Mr. Asim Shahryar, Member HRD Tahir Mushtaq and other board members were also present in the meeting. Private sector was represented by CEO Netsol, Mr. Saleem Ghauri, and Chairman P@SHA, Dr. Shoab Khan.
The Minister emphasized that PSEB is mandated to support and to promote Pakistan’s IT industry aggressively over the next five years so that the volume of IT exports could exceed target of $6 billion by 2020. However, she mentioned that reporting of IT exports by IT companies needs to be improved because State bank’s remittance figures are much below than the actual exports figure of Pakistan’s IT industry. This hurts perception of size of Pakistan’s IT industry abroad with foreign customers and hence, IT companies need to improve their reporting to PSEB and State Bank if they want Pakistan to be taken seriously as a major player in the global IT market. She mentioned that a consultant selected by Korean Exim bank will visit Islamabad next month to start feasibility study for a new state-of-the-art IT Park in Islamabad. The IT Park will create new jobs as well as boost IT exports providing eco system to bolster growth.
MD PSEB mentioned that IT remittances have grown by 41% to $523.3 million during 2014-15 as reported by State Bank of Pakistan. Also, number of IT companies registered with PSEB has reached 1135 which is a growth of 67% over the last two years. He mentioned that PSEB had conducted training of industry professionals on Introduction to CMMI, in March/April 2015 and is now planning for second phase of the training on “Intermediate concepts of CMMi” with five professionals to be conducted abroad. The goal of the CMMi training is to create at least five new CMMI auditors for the IT industry to improve service delivery and quality of IT companies.
The Minister directed PSEB to conduct a series of workshops on growing IT exports where IT startups and young entrepreneurs would be guided and mentored by CEOs of leading IT companies of Pakistan. The goal will be improving visibility of Pakistan’s IT industry globally as well as building trust with foreign clients. She also directed PSEB to establish a counseling center to guide IT startups and entrepreneurs on a 24×7 basis about queries related to company setup, exports reporting, approaching foreign customers, etc.
The Minister appreciated joint efforts of MOITT and PSEB in concluding lease agreement with CAA to acquire land in Karachi for a new IT park there. For land in Lahore, she instructed PSEB to coordinate with government of Punjab. Moreover the Minister was briefed MD PSEB that 60% of the 400 interns placed by PSEB last year have been hired by their respective employers.
The Minister emphasized that PSEB should focus its efforts in future on counseling and marketing of IT startups. The meeting ended with CEO Netsol Saleem Ghauri presenting a copy of his autobiography to the Minister.