How innovative IT parks may affect Pakistan

Karachi IT Park is the largest IT project of its kind in Pakistan, claims Amin-ul-Haq, the Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication. His claim does indicate the growth of the widespread process of IT parks across Pakistan that not only offers professionals, especially the younger lot an opportunity to execute their ideas but also a way to improve the economy.
Karachi’s and Islamabad’s IT parks (costing Rs. 41 billion and Rs 13.72 billion respectively) are under construction which will create over 35,000 IT jobs.
Of them, Karachi IT Park is being tipped as a gateway for its innovation and it, as the minister reportedly claims will benefit not only the citizens of Karachi but also the IT professionals and companies of Sindh and the country.
IT Park, Karachi was approved by ECNEC in June 2021, at a capital cost of USD 186.658 million (including USD 158.416 million from Korean Exim Bank as a loan and PSDP local share of USD 28.242 million). The project, for which land has been acquired near Jinnah International, would be completed in June 2026.
The IT Park Karachi was an eleven-story (8 storeys above and 3 underground floors) self-contained building having a covered area of 106,449 square meters, a report said.
This Technology Park will provide office space to approx. 225 start-ups and small to medium enterprises and other ancillary facilities like testing laboratories, classrooms, industry-academia linkage centers, auditoriums, etc.
The government has invited the private sector to actively participate and play a frontline role to make the IT Park and other IT-related projects “big success stories.”
The foundation stone of IT Park in Islamabad was laid in Chak Shahzad on May 6 by Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque, fulfilling the “Digital Pakistan Vision.” The project would be completed in 30 months with a total cost of Rs 13.72 billion.
The park would not only mitigate the shortage of infrastructure for the IT sector but also facilitate technology transfer through industry and academia linkages, support technology commercialization, links tertiary education and production, and promote research and development; besides enhancing IT exports and industry competitiveness.
IT Park Islamabad would consist of a twelve-storey (two basements or ground floors plus 10 storeys) self-contained building having a covered area of 66,893 square meters.
Islamabad IT Park would initially provide office space to around 120 start-ups and small to medium enterprises and other ancillary facilities like testing laboratories, classrooms, industry-academia linkage center, auditorium, etc.
Currently, Pakistan has 15 software technology parks; three in Islamabad, two in Rawalpindi, eight in Lahore, and one each in Karachi and Gilgit.
Pakistan wants to establish software technology parks in small and big cities of country. Pakistan Software Export Board is working to establish software technology parks in Quetta, Gwadar, Faisalabad, Bannu, Swat, Mardan, Sukkur, and Hyderabad. Moreover, an IT Park for the University of Balochistan costing Rs 1 billion and the provision of fiber optic cable for Tehsil Wadh of District Khuzdar are under consideration. — ER