Technology
Pakistan has been dubbed ' the next ICT powerhouse' by Japan.
Pakistan has been dubbed the "next superpower" of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as the country's engineering exports have increased sixfold in the last decade.
According to information from a recent study shared by The News, one of the main driving forces in this development is the state-run JICA's digital Pakistan policy 2018, which provides various incentives to the IT industry.
In the last ten years, Pakistan's ICT exports have risen sixfold, making it the fastest-growing country in South Asia.
According to a report based on a yearlong analysis by JICA in partnership with the Pakistan Embassy Tokyo, Pakistan is a prominent international outsourcing destination due to its price stability and large number of active freelancers.
Pakistan is positioned as a new partner for Japanese IT firms in the journal. The study provides an overview of Pakistan's ICT industry, including its success in IT exports, the government's support mechanism, a pool of talented and young human resources, and the development of a growth-led environment that is equally owned by the public and private sectors.
Pakistani ICT engineers are highly qualified in programming, software creation, data processing and interpretation, infrastructure design, and cloud computing, according to this study's "IT skills survey 2021."
The study also contains input from Pakistani ICT engineers who work in Japan and see Pakistan as an untapped opportunity for Japanese IT firms, urging them to learn more about Pakistan and its mutual ICT capacity.
In March 2020, Pakistan's Ambassador to Japan, Imtiaz Ahmad, invited the project team, promising them the Mission's full support and thanking JICA for its continued support in Pakistan's export and construction sectors.
In the past, the same team of JICA experts has implemented projects in Pakistan for human capital production, textile value addition, technological training, and water and sanitation facilities.
The establishment of national incubation centers in five major cities, as well as collaborative efforts by the government, business, and academia, have accelerated the development of Pakistan's ICT industry. With the recent rise in Pakistani products exports to Japan, it is anticipated that such efforts would be successful in raising IT exports and helping to increase job opportunities for Pakistani IT engineers and skilled workers.
