ISLAMABAD
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Amin-Ul-Haque has said that for the enhancement of the Country’s Digital Economy, it is necessary to solve the problems of the IT and Telecom industry and give them maximum relief.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also has a special interest in promoting the IT industry. Federal Minister for IT & Telecom constitute three committees for IT Export, Personal Data Protection and Telecom Sector growth.
The committees will finalize its recommendations in a week time which will be presented to the PM who is the Chairman of the Advisory Council.
Council Members suggested that there should not be add any new taxes and/or procedures for IT, Freelancers, E-commerce and Startups to facilitate domestic digital transformation and growth in Exports. Otherwise, peoples will be encouraged to park a significant portion of their earnings abroad which will be a loss to the exchequer.
IT and ITeS is the fastest growing and lowest investment option to grow Pakistan’s forex reserves so we have to ensure ease of doing business and policy continuity as much as possible.
The Advisory Council stressed the need for Consistency in government policies to attract local and international investors, saying that industry and investors become uncertain due to the changing situations, which hurts the efforts to promote the Digital Economy. The required support from SBP and FBR is not forthcoming.
Agreeing, IT Minister Amin-Ul -Haque said that the purpose to constitute the Advisory Council was to formulate workable proposals to address the issues of IT and Telecom industry, make the Industry more functional in the National Economy and then required directives by the PM can be issued in this regard.
“When all the stakeholders/ institutions are on board and the issues resolved in a timely manner, there is no reason the industry cannot become the backbone of the country’s economy and lead the country out of the economic crisis” IT Minister added.
