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PM
calls for investment in IT sector
March 4,
2005. Dawn
By
Our Staff Reporter
http://www.dawn.com/2005/03/05/ebr3.htm
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LAHORE, March
4: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday asked the businessmen
to look beyond the traditional sectors of economy like textiles
and start investing in "knowledge based businesses" like
information technology (IT).
"In the tomorrow's world, only knowledge-based economies would flourish," he
told a gathering at the inauguration of NetSol's IT Village. Mr Aziz said he,
during a meeting in Islamabad, had asked 30 top businessmen to invest in IT sector,
and several of them had already taken the initiative. He said it was important
to invest both in the traditional sectors of the economy and the knowledge based
areas for prosperity and growth.
Mr Aziz also elaborated on a number of policy measures adopted by the government
for the development of telecommunication sector without which the IT firms
could not expand themselves.
He said IT industry did not attract any taxes, which reflected the government's
commitment to promote it. He said it was an area which offered most exciting
growth opportunities for Pakistan. If other nations like India could excel
in it, why can't Pakistan?" he asked.
He said the government was focussing on five areas of priority which included
water security, energy security, telecommunication and physical infrastructure
development, human resource training, and second generation reforms. The
government was investing in these areas for improving them and creating
an enabling environment for rapid economic progress and growth, he said.
Federal IT minister Awais Leghari also spoke on the occasion to give details
of the government measures to develop IT industry and telecommunication
sector of the country. He stated the government was working on e-crimes
bill and data protection act, which would soon be presented before the
cabinet, and tabled in the parliament for approval.
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