KARACHI: Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin ul Haque launched Pakistan’s largest Information Technology Park project in Karachi to facilitate fastest growing IT sector in metropolis. He laid foundation stone in a ceremony held here at project site near Karachi Airport that would provide state of the art facilities to national and international companies besides job opportunities to more than 20,000 IT professionals.

Project was approved by ECNEC at estimated cost of Rs 41.39 billion which included a loan amounting to $ 158.416 million by Korean Exim Bank and PSDP local share of Rs 6.25 billion. Project would be completed in June 2026. Amin-ul-Haque felicitating people of Karachi, Sindh and country on launch of project said that projects of public interest were first priority of government.

Core objective of park was to provide a place equipped with IT and telecommunication basic infrastructure requirements, clean facilities and ample working space to enable innovative businesses develop and prosper, minister said. Karachi IT Park would support creation and development of knowledge-based enterprises besides offering a range of services, would boost knowledge based economy, entrepreneurship and latest Technologies as well, he said. Park’s eleven storey building would provide office space to nearly 225 startups and Small to Medium enterprises and other ancillary facilities like testing laboratories, class rooms, industry academia linkage centre and auditorium etc. Former Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that a much bigger IT park was required in metropolis and initiative was welcome step and it would ensure better facilities to sector. He said that work at home was future work strategy that would remain constant as it has become a practical and feasible approach around world. Special Assistant to Chief Minister for IT Tanzeela Umm-Habiba, Consul General of South Korea to Pakistan Kim Haksung and Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput also addressed ceremony.

MD Pakistan Software Export Board Syed Junaid Imam highlighted salient features of IT park project. Lawmakers, federal and provincial secretary IT, academia, representatives of EXIM Bank Korea, officials of Pakistan Software House Association, prominent business personalities and professionals attended event.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 08 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.