Meng Qiang
Pakistan’s commitment to growing its ICT sector was recently underlined by a government announcement of a massive investment of nearly Rs. 5.4 billion towards ICT projects under the latest budget.
A closer examination of the planned budgetary spending reveals Pakistan’s ambitions and where the government believes future growth lies. The government has earmarked Rs. 179 million to establish a data center to provide cloud-based services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). There’s Rs. 50 million marked for implementing critical telecom data and infrastructure security regulations and Rs. 50 million proposed for expansion of optical transmission networks. Additional funding will also go towards AI innovation, development of broadband services in AJK and training of IT professionals through the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB).
These investments come at a time when exports of Pakistani IT and IT-enabled services are booming, expected to hit US$3.5 billion by the end of the year. The country is also home to more than 300,000 IT professionals, produces more than 25,000 IT graduates annually and has nurtured over 700 tech start-ups since 2010. In fact, the nation has the fourth highest-earning IT workforce in the world.
The recent budget announcements bode well for ICT sector development. If Pakistan is going to remain competitive on the global stage, then it needs to ensure investment in key technologies – such as ubiquitous, high-speed broadband connectivity backed by a robust, reliable network. For example, the investment in cloud-based services will allow Pakistan to compete in the global outsourcing market, while AI funding will help enable the nation to ride the fourth industrial revolution wave.
All these factors combine to give Pakistan an edge in the global digitalization drive, especially given its reputation as a hub of first-rate talent pool in an industry in dire need of professionals. Huawei has played a vital role in developing Pakistan’s ICT talent ecosystem since it began its regional operations in 1998. The company recently donated 300 tablets to PSDF (Punjab Skills Development Fund) and 200 tablets to Akhuwat, in collaboration with our customer Zong to help digitally empower Pakistani youth.
This is in addition to the long-running talent development initiatives Huawei has been running in the country. Huawei has established 93 ICT Academies in Pakistan, providing cutting-edge, real-world ICT training for 40,000 students. In May 2021, a joint program between Huawei and the Federal Ministry of Information and Telecommunications (MoITT) provided 1,000 government officials with ICT training. Meanwhile, the Seeds for the Future program has been running in Pakistan since 2015. Huawei Pakistan handpicks 40 top young talents for an immersive eight-day course in China, exploring the culture and experiencing Huawei’s tech expertise first-hand.
Every year, Huawei’s ICT Competition Middle East – organized together with Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, attracts numerous university students keen to showcase their knowledge and innovation and compete against their local and international peers for the top prize. Pakistan-based teams have traditionally excelled in Huawei-led initiatives, for example, taking first and second place in the 2021 event ahead of some 10,150 candidates from 134 regional universities.
In working on youth-centric initiatives such as the above schemes, Huawei ensures interest in ICT careers remains strong. We can bridge the existing digital divide in Pakistan by providing access to learning, access to technology and access to rewarding careers.
Of course, we can go much further when working with others in the ICT ecosystem. The rise of digitally-enabled societies will rely on public/private partnerships. We strive to work with the government, academia and industry to help Pakistan nurture an even stronger ICT ecosystem and attain its national digitalization goals. We are proud that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently underlined his commitment to working closely with Huawei in developing the nation’s talent pool, infrastructure and excellence in IT.
Pakistan is a country on the rise. An ambitious government agenda coupled with a rich talent pool signifies great potential for the country. A private sector willing to do its part will only fast-track the country’s goals.
—The writer is CEO of Huawei Pakistan
