Information technology in Pakistan

The Information technology sector in Pakistan is a rapidly growing industry with a lot of potential. Despite the country's financial challenges, this sector has consistently performed well economically. The development of the IT industry is overseen by the Ministry of Information Technology.

Overview

In August 2000, the first IT policy and implementation strategy were approved under the leadership of Atta-ur-Rahman, who was the Federal Minister of Science and Technology at the time. This policy emphasized the importance of high-quality IT education in universities rather than just increasing the number of students. The Telecom Policy was introduced in December 2015, and the National Digital Pakistan Policy was approved by the cabinet in May 2018. From 2013 to 2018, the sector experienced a significant transformation following the introduction of 3G and 4G technologies. According to Bloomberg, 2021 was a standout year for Pakistan's technology sector, partly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tech crackdown in China.

E-government

The Government of Pakistan has made Information Technology a priority to help establish an Information Age in the country. Significant progress has been made in developing efficient computerized e-government systems for key departments, such as the police, law enforcement agencies, and district administrations. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has implemented advanced computerized systems for issuing important documents like national identity cards, passports, and permanent residency cards. IT has been crucial in improving work procedures for the civil service and other government-related sectors.

According to a study by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Pakistan has shown significant engagement with Information Technology, particularly in the areas of e-governance and e-commerce.

Pakistan's communication system is also reliable. This has now fully graduated into the email, Internet and IT culture perse. The country is fast exploring the brave new world of information technology and keenly assimilating the requirements of e-government and e-commerce. Information technology has opened a new business frontier for Pakistan. The government is assigning high priority to information technology both in terms of policy limelight and resource allocation.

— United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 2002

Computing in Pakistani languages

In 1994, Concept Software Pvt Ltd, an Indian software company, partnered with Multilingual Solutions, a UK-based firm, to develop InPage Urdu for Pakistan's newspaper industry.

Urdu

The Center for Research in Urdu Language Processing (CRULP) carries out research and development in the linguistic and computational aspects of Urdu and other Pakistani languages. Their work includes speech processing, computational linguistics, and script processing.

Sindhi

Efforts have been made to digitize the Sindhi language, making it easier to publish Sindhi content, such as newspapers, magazines, and books. With the help of InPage, Sindhi language support has been made available, featuring accurate fonts and ligatures, allowing users to type in Sindhi with ease.

Software development in Pakistan

Pakistan's software development industry is booming, fueled by government support through programs promoting development and exports. Pakistani IT companies have built software for diverse sectors, from schools and hospitals to supermarkets and factories.

Affordable, locally developed software packages cater to businesses of all sizes, while large-scale systems like ERP are used by industries such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food production.

The surge in smartphone and tablet ownership has spurred a massive growth in mobile app development. With low startup costs, individuals can easily create apps from home using personal computers and internet access.

Educational institutions are responding to this demand by offering training programs in software and app development, equipping young people with the skills needed for this thriving industry.