Technology

Pakistan can add $59.7bn to annual economic value through tech: report

information technology - Pakistan can add $59.7bn to annual economic value through tech: report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has a thriving technology sector and digital transformation can help the country unlock up to $59.7 billion in annual economic value by 2030.

This was stated in a report titled ‘Unlocking Pakistan’s Digital Potential,’ prepared by economists at AlphaBeta. The report says that Pakistan is home to over 300,000 IT professionals, produces over 25,000 IT graduates annually, and has nurtured over 700 tech start-ups since 2010.

Technology exports have grown 15 percent per year since 2020 and are expected to reach $3.5 billion (Rs610,750,000,000) in 2022. Pakistan’s online population has grown rapidly and the internet penetration rate is reaching 54 percent in 2021,” it states.

The report claims that despite the above-stated achievements, Pakistan has the potential to go further in its digital transformation journey. It identifies three main pillars of action Pakistan could take to reach the projected growth opportunity, which include developing infrastructure to support the local tech ecosystem, continuing to create a conducive environment for IT export, and promoting innovation and digital skills in the country.

Moreover, there are eight key technologies that hold transformative potential for businesses and workers and can create significant economic value for Pakistan. These include the mobile internet; cloud computing; big data; AI; fintech; IoT and remote sensing; advanced robotics; and additive manufacturing.

The report was released at a recent online event organized by Google and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), which was attended by President Arif Alvi, Google’s regional director for Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Farhan Qureshi, P@SHA for IT & IT-enabled Services (ITeS) Chairman Badar Khushnood and others.

President Alvi said while speaking at the event that he was amazed by the report’s finding of the potential of digital transformation in adding to the country’s economic value.

“Realising the goal and the vision of digital Pakistan will require a whole-of-nation approach, from both the public and private sectors. The efforts of groups like Google and P@SHA will be key,” he said.

He said that it is heartening to know that over 410,000 jobs are supported in Pakistan’s economy through the use of Google’s products.”

“Digital transformation is vital for Pakistan to address the long-term implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and build long-term resilience and growth. At Google, we aim to play our part by equipping Pakistanis with helpful products and tools, tech know-how, and online safety skills,” said the country director.

He further stated that in order to be effective, digital transformation has to be inclusive and it is essential to make digital training opportunities accessible also to under-represented communities and vulnerable groups.

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