Pakistan needs stronger digital infrastructure to boost IT sector: Shaza
Lahore: Pakistan needs to strengthen its *digital infrastructure, including fibre connectivity, mobile broadband, spectrum availability and satellite regulations*, to support the expansion of its technology sector, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Saturday.
She was speaking at the *American Business Forum (ABF)–LUMS Thought Leadership Session, titled *“Taking Pakistan’s IT Industry to the Next Level,” held at the *Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)*.
The minister said improving the country’s digital ecosystem was essential for creating an environment in which technology businesses could expand, attract investment and compete in international markets.
She also highlighted the importance of developing Pakistan’s human resources, saying the country had jobs and opportunities in the technology sector but faced a shortage of appropriately skilled professionals.
“The jobs are there. The opportunity is there. But the right people with the right skills are not there,” she said.
Shaza Fatima disclosed that around *33,000 seventh- and eighth-semester computer science students* had taken a national baseline test covering *10 employability competencies. Only **0.4% scored above 80%, while around **4% scored above 68%*.
She said structural improvements were required in *curricula, teaching and the K-12 education system* to improve the quality and employability of technology graduates.
The minister said human resources and a stronger digital ecosystem would both be critical to achieving Pakistan’s *$15 billion IT export target*.
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Speaking during the discussion, *Umair Khan*, Co-founder and Chairman of Folio3 and Founding Partner of Mentors Fund, said Pakistan needed to move beyond its reliance on freelancing and develop technology companies capable of scaling internationally.
He called for improvements in K-12 education, a predictable taxation environment and stronger public-private partnerships to support the growth of technology businesses.
*Dr Syed Sohail H. Naqvi*, Chairperson of Knowledge Streams and Director, EdTech, TMC, said Pakistan’s technology challenge was not limited to universities and argued that the availability of jobs and market opportunities was equally important.
“We are saying that the logjam is in the universities, and I’m saying hell no. I’m saying the logjam is in the jobs,” he said, calling for greater government procurement and increased opportunities for local technology companies.
*Ahmed Azmat*, Director Operations at Stewart Pakistan, highlighted Pakistan’s potential as a technology investment destination. He said Stewart Pakistan had been operating in the country for more than 15 years and continued to expand its operations.
He said the company had invested *$1.3 million in a new office at the National NSTEP facility*, reflecting continued investment in Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
*Dr Hadia Majid*, Faculty of Economics at LUMS, highlighted the potential of technology and freelancing to increase women’s workforce participation by providing greater flexibility and access to remote employment.
The session, organised by the *American Business Forum in collaboration with LUMS, brought together government, academia and industry representatives to discuss the measures needed to strengthen Pakistan’s technology sector. The discussion was moderated by **Dr Ihsan Ayyub Qazi*, Faculty of Computer Science at LUMS.
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