Tue, 21-Oct-2025

USF instrumental in IT growth, women’s empowerment, says Shaza Fatima

USF

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized that technological advancement and national progress cannot be achieved without full gender inclusion. The role of the Universal Service Fund (USF) in promoting Pakistan’s IT industry is significant. By connecting remote areas to the digital world, USF has empowered women, startups, freelancers, and social … Read more

Internet services disrupted across Pakistan due to submarine cable fault

Internet services

The Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima, confirmed a significant disruption in internet services across Pakistan caused by a fault in the international submarine cable system, AAE-1. The fault has affected approximately 1,000 gigabytes per second of data traffic, leading to a substantial slowdown in online connectivity nationwide. To address the issue, authorities … Read more

Pakistan, Uzbekistan to increase cooperation in IT and Telecom

Pakistan and Uzbekistan

Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan, Aybek Arif Usmanov agreed to increase cooperation in the IT and Telecommunications sector during a meeting.

During the session, IT Minister Shaza Fatima and Ambassador Arif Usmanov discussed common interests while agreeing to increase cooperation in the Information Technology and Telecommunications sector.

The IT minister expressed the significance of Pakistan’s relationship with Uzbekistan and the importance of the cooperation in the IT and Telecom sector between the two.

She also suggested that the countries could learn from each other’s experience in the field of technology.

On the other hand, Ambassador Arif Usmanov also expressed Uzbekistan’s interest in the cooperation, advocating a giant working group between the two countries.

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PM calls for complete roadmap to enhance IT exports

PM calls

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif directed for submission of a comprehensive roadmap to boost IT exports.

He said the government would take steps to fully avail of the billion dollars potential of the country for IT exports, besides, the young people would be provided with required facilities of education, skills development and startups.

The prime minister chaired a review meeting on IT and Telecom sector.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja and the relevant senior officials.

During the meeting, the prime minister said that during their previous tenure, positive outcome was witnessed from the initiation of different projects in the IT sector.

He stressed upon resolution of all issues of start ups, freelancers and IT companies relating to banking.

Expressing his satisfaction over the IT export volume of more than $3 billion in the current year, he emphasized upon its further increase. For brining Pakistan’s IT sector at par with the international standards, they would have to work hard, he observed.

The prime minister also asked for submission of a comprehensive report regarding special technology zones. The meeting was apprised of progress on IT package announced by the prime minister during June 2023.

During the previous tenure, due to special attention of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the IT exports witnessed 13 percent increase during the first seven months of the current fiscal year when compared with previous corresponding year.

Under the Digiskills programme, a total of 4 million students of 17 batches, comprising 28 percent females, had been imparted training. Pakistan had emerged as the second top country in the world on the basis of numbers of freelancers. Pakistan was exporting IT products to 170 countries of the world, it was further added.

The meeting was informed that during the previous year, an investment of $400 million was made in Pakistani startups. The prime minister directed for taking of all necessary, legal and policy related steps to attract investment and boost IT exports.

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