PM wants roadmap for IT development including 5G launch within a week

PM wants roadmap for IT development including 5G launch within a week.

Prime Minister Imran Khan directed formulating a comprehensive roadmap for development of information technology (IT) sector in the country within a week.

The key areas include launch of 5G spectrum, connecting mobile phone towers through fiberization in big cities and defining time-lines of other important matters to remove impediments in promotion of the IT sector.

He issued the directive while presiding a meeting on promotion of information technology.

PM’s adviser Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Co-chairman PM Task Force for IT and Telecom Dr Ata ur Rehman attended the meeting.

The secretaries of information technology, commerce, cabinet and finance divisions also attended.

PM wants roadmap for IT

Prime Minister Imran Khan said the country’s future linked with the information technology.

He said the government was giving priority to promotion of the sector by providing incentives to the skilled youth.

He said the country’s youth had immense talent and expertise in the IT and the promotion of that sector would create millions of jobs for them.

Secretary Information Technology Shoaib Siddiqi briefed PM on giving incentives to the skilled professional youth and freelancers.

IT secretary also briefed on increasing exports of the IT sector and tax incentives and easy loans to the youth. Besides, facilitation of foreign remittance process for freelancers and visa-related matters.

He also briefed on a comprehensive plan out for the promotion of IT sector.

For that relevant departments had been assigned duties.

A representative of the State Bank of Pakistan said for freelancers, the process on implementing decision on increasing monthly limit of foreign remittance to $25,000. He said to complete it in two days.

It had been ensured that freelancers be given maximum incentives on the received amount and also the exchange of foreign currency into local currency be made at inter-bank rate, he said.

The concerned officials also briefed meeting on establishment of e-payment gateway by April.

A representative of the Federal Bureau of Revenue gave a briefing on tax incentives to the IT sector.

GTV