Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the project team of Islamabad Technology Park and the Information Technology Ministry to complete the project within current calendar year instead of the scheduled completion date of June 2025.
During his visit to the under-construction site of the country’s largest Islamabad Technology Park, the premier said that the project was launched in 2022 during the coalition government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the contract was awarded to a South Korean company.
He said the project was being completed at a cost of Rs25 billion out of which $70 million (soft loan) was being provided by the South Korean government.
“Soon after taking charge of my office, I issued directions to continue work on the project round the clock,” PM Shehbaz said adding that he as Punjab chief minister had introduced the system of 24 hours work on the development projects.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the project, the premier asked the project management to try their best to complete the project by September or October this year.
He said after completion of the project, some 120 offices of different companies would be established in the Park.
Similarly, he said an incubation centre with 15 offices and startups would also be part of the Technology Park with a business support centre where legal marketing and financial support facilities would be provided under one umbrella.
Around 10,000 productive jobs would be created in the IT Park for the skilled and knowledgeable workforce, he said.
The prime minister highlighted that as a result of the construction of the IT Park, the country’s exports would be increased by around US$70 million per year.
PM Shehbaz said that a level 3 data centre-one of the highest and fist ever in Pakistan- would be established in the IT Park.
He pointed out that Islamabad Technology Park would create synergy between domestic and foreign academia, researchers, industry and planners.
The premier vowed to replicate such projects in other parts of the country with cooperation of the provincial governments.
The prime minister thanked the government of South Korea for their generous contribution in organizing this project.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja also accompanied the prime minister.
