ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the relevant authorities to develop Daanish IT Park in Islamabad into an internationally recognised technology hub, fostering innovation, investment and collaboration between academia and industry.
The directives were issued during a review meeting chaired by the prime minister to assess progress on the IT Park project.
Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to establish a modern technological ecosystem at the facility by strengthening cooperation between educational institutions and the private sector.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to equipping young Pakistanis with advanced skills in information technology, artificial intelligence and financial technology (FinTech), while opening up new opportunities for technology entrepreneurs.
The prime minister also called for the launch of operations at Daanish IT Park in partnership with international technology companies.
He directed the Ministry of Information Technology to prepare a comprehensive case study of the Islamabad-based project and arrange an independent third-party audit to assess its performance and implementation.
During the meeting, officials briefed the participants on initiatives aimed at developing an integrated IT ecosystem to boost Pakistan’s technology exports and attract greater foreign investment.
The meeting was informed that 50 privately owned buildings had been converted into Software Technology Parks under the Pakistan Software Export Board. In addition, eight incubation centres had been established nationwide to facilitate the growth of startups.
Officials further stated that 105 co-working spaces were currently operational to provide facilities for IT professionals.
The participants were also informed that discussions with leading international technology companies were underway to facilitate their operations at Daanish IT Park.
