Shams ul Nisa

Building software technology parks (STPs) in the rural areas would generate employment and retain talent in the local regions, Raja Noor ul Amin, PRO Special Communications Organization (SCO) Gilgit, told WealthPK. According to Noor, STPs provide both direct and indirect employment opportunities to the local population. “By hiring IT professionals from the local community, we can create direct opportunities and foster digital advancement among the population,” he said. “Private and public investment in skill development projects will enhance the skilled labor force to meet the demand. More investment in education will be the foremost priority to ensure the availability of skilled labour in the market,” he said.

“Indirect possibilities include transport and infrastructure development in the area, ultimately increasing the commercial value of the place. Local tourism will flourish, helping small businesses to earn more revenue. This will have a spillover impact and attract both national and international investment. Ultimately, this will have positive repercussions for economic development in the rural areas. STPs play a vital role in promoting startup opportunities for the local residents. With the advancement in technology, the world is transforming into an IT hub, and to cope with that, IT skill development is the foremost policy of nations, he added. Currently, the Pakistan Software Export Board is governing 32 software technology parks (STPs) in different cities of Pakistan.

According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, in Fiscal Year 2023, seven new STPs have been established in Faisalabad, Gujrat, Jamshoro, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar and Rawalpindi. These STPs will not only assist in improving the infrastructural development of the IT sector but also absorb a large proportion of the labour force. In Fiscal Year 2023, the IT sector accounted for 35.1% of export services, the highest among the services sectors. Software technology parks can further provide a platform for IT exports by encouraging new startups in all sectors such as agriculture, health and education.

“Technology advancement in rural areas will improve internet access, encouraging work from home. Women entrepreneurs can promote business at national and international level while working from the comfort of home. Self-employment is more likely to increase as a result of technology advancement in rural areas, resulting in an increase in per capita income,” he added. The IT sector in Pakistan showed its potential by achieving record-high export services in FY2023. However, more efforts are needed to promote the IT sector and make Pakistan a leading tech-economy. Software technology parks are one of the major contributors to technology advancement. The government has to invest more in the IT sector and announce incentives in order to encourage private investment.

Credit: INP-WealthPk