ISLAMABAD: The government has released funds amounting to 4.21 billion rupees to execute Information Technology related projects during the first five months of the current fiscal year under the Public Sector Development Programme.

According to official data Out of the total authorized/disbursed amount, the total amount spent on the development projects from July to November stood at 3,579.25 million rupees.

On December 23, PM Shehbaz Sharif had underlined the need for increasing IT exports in line with the country’s enormous potential in this sector. He was chairing a meeting in Islamabad regarding the promotion of IT exports.

The prime minister said IT exports were very low as compared to the talent in Pakistan, which needed to be worked out on priority basis.

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He directed the officials concerned to establish liaison between universities, academia and IT industry for the development of IT sector.

The meeting was briefed that Pakistan’s IT exports last year were 2.6 billion dollars and efforts were being made to increase the exports to 5 billion dollars this financial year.

The meeting was told that Pakistan had the second largest freelance work force in the world and Pakistan Software Export was taking steps to increase its capacity.

It was further informed that for the inclusion of new people in the IT industry, two-year associate degree programs in IT were being considered at the universities.

Similarly, the Tech Destination brand Pakistan was being introduced across the world to promote foreign investment in the IT sector in Pakistan.

The meeting was apprised that the Federal Board of Revenue had established help desks in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad for the convenience of IT exporters.