Ambitious target

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set a target of reaching $25 billion in IT exports within the next three years, aiming to capitalise on the global boom in information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI). The export target is ambitious because it implies a near tenfold increase in IT exports within three years. While the country’s IT sector has made impressive strides in recent years, achieving this target will require significant efforts in infrastructure development, policy reform, and human resource development. Despite the strong potential in Pakistan’s IT sector, several structural weaknesses hinder its rapid expansion and competitiveness on the global stage.

This includes a lack of advanced skills needed for high-demand areas like AI, data analytics, and cloud computing, limited access to funding and investment for tech startups, the regulatory and tax burden on tech companies, especially in terms of export and payment regulations, and the lack of a robust cybersecurity framework and data protection regulations aligned with international standards. These structural weaknesses underscore the need for comprehensive reforms and targeted investments if Pakistan’s IT sector is to compete globally.

Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui

Islamabad