Work on IT park’s construction to start soon

Islamabad – After the approval of construction of first state-of-the-art Information Technology (IT) Park in Islamabad by Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC), the project is likely to kick start soon. Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has leased about 45 acres of land in Chak Shahzad to build the park. PSEB is mandated to facilitate Pakistan’s IT industry and increase exports of software and services from Pakistan. According to officials, PSEB has been conducting surveys since 2004. The results indicate that absence of IT parks is one of the top three concerns for the IT industry. The Korean Exim Bank has agreed to finance the establishment of the first Technology Park in Pakistan to promote IT and telecom sector to be completed at the cost of $50 million. According to blue print buildings with around covered area of 1, 000, 00-1, 500,000 square feet will be constructed on 15 acres of land to host more than 100 IT companies.

But despite claim of PSEB that IT companies are demanding IT parks, many question authenticity of surveys and believe IT companies would not be interested in availing the facility.

It is too late for that, all operational companies have already their premises, why any settled company would shift to new offices, an IT official said.