ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said that Pakistan was earning around US$ 1.4 billion through Information Technology related exports annually. Chairing a high-level meeting of Information and Technology Board for utilization of R&D fund at PM House Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister said the phenomenal growth of this august sector was evident from the fact that 110 universities in the country were offering discipline of information and communication technology (ICT).He observed that information and communication technology had become a strategic business necessity, therefore, the government was giving foremost priority to develop IT in the country in view of its importance in today’s rapidly growing communication system.
These universities are producing 20,000 ICT graduates annually; over 125,000 professionals are working in the country, he added.He stated that more than 1,000 IT companies, including 60 international companies are operating in Pakistan.The Prime Minister observed that developing economies are swiftly moving from industrial to information-based economies.“If we have to compete with the economies of the region, we need to rapidly adopt the modern information technology in our economy,” he added.The Prime Minister stressed upon the need that the research and development fund should be equitably and optimally used for research and human resource.He expressed his confidence that ICT R&D Fund will be utilized to promote IT in line with the government’s IT vision and policy.
