Information, Communication & Telecom Industry Emerging IT & Telecom Boom in Pakistan
In Pakistan IT & Telecom sectors are showing tremendous growth in terms of users, development and revenues. Pakistan ranks among 10 countries charging lowest call rates in the world. The statistics of the sector are as follows:
100 Million Cellular users & growing
More than 19 million internet users
Above 688,373 Broadband subscribers
Total direct and indirect jobs in Telecom sector are 1.36 million
Pakistan is fast becoming the destination of choice for a significant number of international IT/ITeS companies looking to relocate their operations offshore. The ready availability of skilled professionals, an appropriate IT infrastructure, and affordable rates for connectivity result in considerable time and cost-savings for entrepreneurs.
Pakistan's IT industry's global share is estimated at US$2.8 billion, including global sales revenue of US$1.6 billion.
A skilled workforce of 110,000 English-speaking IT professionals in the economy, of which 24,000 are engaged in exports.
Nearly 1500 companies, Two are listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE), 2 on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) and 1 on Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX)
Nine STPs offering around 700,000 square feet of IT-enabled office space
Seven multinational companies have 'Development Centers' in Pakistan
110 ISO 9001, 19 CMMi and 5 ISO 27001 certified companies
A strong telecom sector supports the IT industry's development
IT & Telecom - Incentives
100% foreign equity allowed in software houses
Minimum US $ 0.15 million investment is required in service sector
