PM Calls for IT Strategies to Achieve $25 Billion Export Target in Five Years
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on IT experts to develop strategies and plans aimed at reaching a $25 billion target for IT exports over the next five years.
Speaking at the ‘Agay Barho, a-Google for Pakistan’ event in Islamabad on Thursday, the Prime Minister praised Google’s contributions to Pakistan and the global IT landscape.
He urged IT companies and experts to devise plans for equipping the youth with modern skills, which will enhance their employability both in Pakistan and internationally, including in the Gulf States.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to create a fully paperless, digitized governance system to combat corruption. He further stressed the importance of supporting and promoting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan.
Shehbaz Sharif stated that both federal and provincial governments must leverage their resources to improve education, training, and empowerment of the youth, with a particular focus on enhancing opportunities for young women.
At the event, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja underscored Google’s crucial role in advancing digitalization in Pakistan and highlighted the need for improved technical skills among IT graduates.
Google’s Regional Director for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, Farhan Qureshi, acknowledged the significant opportunities for freelancers in Pakistan. He announced that Google’s Career Certificates program will offer 45,000 scholarships in the country and revealed plans to develop 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan.
