Dr. Umar Saif, the Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, is actively working to draw global investors into a proposed venture capital initiative for startups. In addition to this effort, he will soon visit Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, the government is planning to establish 5,000 joint e-working centers to support freelancers across the country.
Dr. Umar Saif emphasized the provision of interest-free loans to establish these joint E-Working Centers, which will significantly boost employment opportunities within Pakistan. He also highlighted positive discussions with Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, focusing on a 5-point agenda related to the IT sector. Among the discussed topics was the retention of dollars within the IT industry, with promising news expected in this regard. This move aims not only to repatriate overseas IT accounts to Pakistan and restore investor confidence but also to expedite the influx of dollars into the country, thus increasing IT exports promptly.
Furthermore, Caretaker IT Minister Dr. Umar Saif stressed the need for the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) to redefine its role. He believes that PSEB should play a crucial part in helping IT companies acquire international clients, promote business, and enhance Pakistan’s global market presence. This sentiment was expressed during his chairmanship of the 58th meeting of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).
Dr. Umar Saif highlighted Pakistan’s unique position in terms of its IT professionals and time zone, emphasizing the importance of introducing Pakistani IT/ITeS products to the world effectively. He called for collaboration between PSEB and Pakistan’s trade and commerce missions in embassies worldwide to facilitate the growth of Pakistani IT companies’ exports.
