Govt targets $5 billion IT export remittances in next three years

The government is aiming $5 billion for export remittances through Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITeS) in the next three years.

The target will be achieved by digitalising payment gateways, setting up broadband internet in unserved areas and by practising e-governance in Pakistan.

This was revealed in a meeting of Dr Ishrat Hussain, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms, and Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haq.

The advisor was informed that the ministry is taking steps to provide broadband services in the country through the IT Universal Service Fund, the services which promote the development of telecommunication services in un-served and under-served areas of the country.

The minister added that plans for laying fibre optic cable in remote areas and providing faster internet service are also underway.

The IT and ITeS export remittances comprising computer services and call centre services surged by 23.71 per cent to $1.230 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 compared to $994.848 million during the same period last year (2018-19).

“After record export remittances through IT exports, the next target is $5 billion during the next three years”, said Haq. “A payment gateway and e-office projects will be completed soon”, Federal Minister for IT said.

Dr Ishrat Hussain said, “the important role of the Ministry of IT in the development of the country cannot be ignored. The Ministry of IT deserves congratulations on the significant increase in IT exports.”