IT exports to reach $50bn: PM

February 21, 2022: The country's IT exports will reach $50 billion in a few years and the youth should in no way miss this technology revolution, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday while addressing the launching ceremony of the National E-Tijarat Portal. 

He urged the youth not to miss the IT revolution which would not only generate revenue for themselves but also bridge the country’s trade gap.

The government would remove all impediments in the IT sector to facilitate youth so that they could benefit from the technology revolution. IT industry was youth-specific as tech giants became billionaires in their 20s and had old-aged people as their subordinates.

The prime minister said consequent to the government’s incentives, the IT exports had reached around $4 billion within a couple of years which would further enhance to fill the import-export gap.

Announcing zero-tax for registered e-freelancers, the prime minister said American technologist Bill Gates visited Pakistan last week at his invitation as he wanted to involve him in Pakistan’s IT sector.

He said he would come up with good news in a few days in that regard. However, he also lauded Bill Gates’s contribution to Pakistan in polio eradication as the country reported no case last year.

The prime minister, who earlier launched E-Tijarat Portal, said the country’s elite-centric system always resisted the common man from excelling. However, despite having no developed systems, Pakistan’s youth had immense potential.

He said the government had also introduced a core education curriculum for up to fifth class so far to do away with the systemic discrimination of English and Urdu medium education.

Exemplifying a freelancer girl Nadia from Gilgit sitting in the audience, Imran Khan said IT provided the easiest opportunity particularly for women to contribute to the national development in any environment. Even the 60% of the country’s population under the age of 30 could also be used for this purpose, he added.

The prime minister also appreciated his Special Assistant on E-Commerce Aon Abbas Buppi for his concise and informative presentation as well as his dedicated efforts to promote e-commerce.

He told the gathering that the incumbent government had inherited a bankrupt country but being a sportsman, he knew how to sail through the difficulties and always advised his cabinet never to worry about it.

Earlier, the prime minister also distributed awards among the youngsters running their startups in multiple fields.

APP