ISLAMABAD   -  A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Ultra Soft System (USS) for setting up of software technology park in Quetta here on Thursday. 

The ultra soft technology park, with a space of 13,800 sq feet, would be set up near Quetta International Airport.

Speaking on the occasion, Syed Amin-ul-Haque, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, said that Quetta was the largest city in Balochistan and thus the hub of social, cultural and economic activities in Balochistan. He said the IT industry was receiving top priority from the government to improve Pakistan’s economy, create jobs and lift the overall quality of life. In this regard, the government has decided to set up an information technology park near the Jinnah International Airport in the trade and business hub of Karachi at a cost of Rs31 billion. He said that the industry was being provided strong government support and extremely attractive incentives. There were several projects intended to facilitate and assist IT industry in its growth trajectory and ensure continued momentum in the local and export earnings upward, he said. 

Syed Amin-ul-Haque said that Pakistan’s information and communication technology industry had delivered stellar export earnings performance. He said that ICT export remittances, including telecommunication, computer and information services, surged to $1.7 billion at a growth rate of 45.88% during July-April of FY 2020-21, in comparison to $1.07 billion during July-April of FY 2019-20.

He said it was vital to ensure the participation of women in the IT sector as they could play important role in the export of IT products. 

Osman Nasir, Managing Director, Pakistan Software Export Board, said that following the direction of Minister for IT, PSEB had setup an industry facilitation centre to extend maximum assistance to the IT companies in Quetta. There was strong demand for STPs in the country due to the booming IT industry and STPs were being setup on public-private sector partnership basis, he added.

It is worth mentioning here that as per SECP data, there are 65 registered IT companies in Balochistan out of which 61 are operating in Quetta city. 

PSEB was setting up more STPs through conversion of unused and vacant buildings into state-of-the-art STPs, Osman Nasir said. 

He said work was underway for establishing technology parks in the universities