Islamabad: Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, presided over the first meeting of the Functional Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication. This gathering focused on reevaluating incentive schemes for IT exporters, signaling a potential shift from cash rewards to more sustainable alternatives.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting convened in the committee room of the Ministry of IT and included key stakeholders such as Secretary IT Captain (Retd) Muhammad Mahmood, Member IT Syed Junaid Imam, Member Telecom Muhammad Jahanzeb Rahim, and representatives from the Finance Division, Ministry of Commerce, State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Secretary General of P@SHA, Nadeem Malik, briefed the chair on the current cash reward scheme for the IT industry.

Discussions during the meeting revolved around the development of a new scheme to replace the existing cash rewards for IT exporters. A committee, including Member IT Syed Junaid Imam, Secretary General P@SHA Nadeem Malik, and a representative from the State Bank of Pakistan, was established to consider and propose alternatives.