Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the importance of advancing the information technology sector and boosting IT-related exports, highlighting these initiatives as primary objectives for the government. Speaking at a meeting, he emphasized the significant potential of the nation’s youth in the IT domain and the necessity to harness this potential effectively.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister instructed the acceleration of projects aimed at establishing ‘Asaan Khidmat Marakaz’ in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He also called for collaboration with provincial governments to replicate these facilities across other provinces. The briefing during the meeting highlighted a notable increase in household internet connections across the country, which surged from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.10 million currently.

The meeting also projected that Pakistan’s IT exports could reach an estimated 4.5 to 4.6 billion dollars in the ongoing fiscal year. Furthermore, advancements in fiber connectivity were reported, with installations completed in government schools and health units in Islamabad, alongside progress in establishing free internet hotspots in the capital nearing completion.