Government steps for IT promotion praised
ISLAMABAD- The US Department of Commerce in its annual Report for 2002 has greatly appreciated the step taken by Pakistan government for the promotion of IT & Telecom sector in the country.
The report has particularly praised the efforts made by the Minister for Science and Technology Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman calling him an “energetic Minister”.
It particularly notes with admiration the setting up of virtual university, 15-year tax holiday for software exporters, reduction in bandwidth rates, fast spread of Internet, expansion of cellular market etc.
The report comments that the expected expansion in cellular phones and tax breaks offered 1 provides excellent opportunities for US and other foreign companies to invest in Pakistan.
The report says” Pakistan’s information technology sector under the direction of an energetic Minister is trying to catch up. The government is keen on introducing virtual universities and distance learning.” At the same time, 15-year tax breaks are being offered to attract foreign information technology firms. A key element of the information technology policy is the supply of cheap bandwidth capacity.
Prices have trembled from about $100,000 per month/mbits to $3,000 currently. Internet bandwidth usage ha soared as access has expanded from 29 cities in August 2000 to 350 cities and towns earlier this year. Similarly, with penetration of only .2.5 percent, telecommunication is a major growth sector. The report further notes, “cellular market with a penetration of 0.25 percent is growing quickly because of aggressive deregulation and lower tariffs. The current 450,000 cellular phone subscribers are forecast to swell to one million by 2003 thus offering excellent opportunities for us firms”.
Source: The Nation
Date:3/1/2002
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