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Karachi airport to get IT park |
Islamabad: a cost of Rs31,000 billion, officials say, the government has decided to set up an IT park at the International Jinnah Airport at the Karachi business and trade centre.
The government focuses on increasing the IT sector's growth to increase exports. It is contrary to traditional practice when exports from traditional industries such as textiles have been placed in excessive dependency.
The Government of South Korea has provided funding for the IT park project, including technical know-how.
Moreover, in other towns, especially Islamabad, the government also builds IT parks to boost the IT sector. IT is the only industry that provides enormous employment opportunities.
Not only will the establishment of IT parks give the IT sector new impetus but they will also provide people with employment opportunities.
South Korea will provide 85 % of its project funding, calculated at Rs170 to the dollar, which amounts to about Rs26.4 billion.
Seoul is also offering bursary training for IT park management capacity building.
Project costs totalling Rs31 billion are estimated. To conclude the project, the Government will provide around Rs26 billion in foreign loans. The remaining 15% of federal public sector development costs will be met (PSDP).
The IT Park has around 210 IT companies with a workforce of 8,400. A multi-story office building is included in this project.
Sources said the Express Tribune was to act as the project executing agency of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and to complete it in six years.
The IT park was said to have 106,449 square metres of space with 8 floors above the ground and three floors below the floor.
A feasibility study including a detailed demand analysis study of the IT park was conducted by the Korean consultants and the PSEB.
Three broad aspects behind the global growth of IT parks were highlighted in the report.
First of all, technology is very relevant to economic development because it provides a strong competitive advantage.
Secondly, in global technological development, innovation, job creation, and economic growth, small and medium-sized enterprises play an increasingly important role.
Thirdly, the growth of advanced and expert SMEs provides a high potential for growth in the light of the feasibility study, project scope and important components.
The government has planned to set up the IT Park in Karachi given these three broad perspectives.
The IT park provides IT companies with space, facilities and services. It will provide a platform to develop synergies between industry and local universities.
It will also attract international business partnerships and worldwide IT companies as tenants and investors.
The Karachi IT park will enhance the provision of IT and IT-enabled (ITeS) business areas and allied infrastructure facilities and will promote the growth of the IT industry.
The project will also contribute to improving IT cluster formation, increasing export revenues and presenting Pakistani innovations and IT services to international audience and customers.
There are offices, daycare centres, facilities, parking facilities etc. in IT park buildings.
It will be equipped with ICT, security and a data centre. Two years after its completion, the IT park management will be provided with post-project operational support.
Management of the IT park is also part of the information management system. The ICT infrastructure consultancy service for the design and building of buildings with security facilities comprises two years of operational support.
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