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ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz yesterday said that Pakistan by focusing on development of human capital, better infrastructure and an enabling environment for investors, is gearing up to be a major destination for outsourcing of IT enabled services.
He was talking to W Lance Anderson, President and CEO, Nova Star Financial and Tom Slone, Chairman and CEO, Touchstone Communications, who called on him along with a delegation at the Prime Minister House here.
The Prime Minister said as a result of economic reforms introduced by the government, investment friendly polices and availability of human capital, the cost of doing business in Pakistan has been reduced and more investors are attracted to Pakistan, says a press release.
The Prime Minister said that privatisation and opening of the telecommunication sector to the private sector has stimulated phenomenal growth and the number of cellular phone users has risen form 2.5 million to 20 million users in a period of three years.
The Prime Minister said the policies of liberalisation, deregulation, and privatisation in the telecom sector have already attracted an investment of over two billion US dollars, created over 10,000 jobs. Pakistan is expecting an investment of about $ 4-5 billion in the next five years, he added.
The Prime Minister said that with the establishment of SEMEWE 4, Pakistan now has better international connectivity and redundancy will provide enhanced potential for outsourcing of Information Technology (IT) enable services which has further improved the prospects of local and foreign investment in IT and Telecom sector.
He said that connectivity, access, content, and application are all vital to the future of the Information Society and the government intends to keep pursuing an aggressive policy to put together these components for provision of a composite information infrastructure.
The Prime Minster indicated that government would set up a national body to prove vision and policy and overview the development of IT & Telecom sector in Pakistan. The Prime Minster will head the body.
The Prime Minster appreciated the performance of Touchstone Communication and said such companies are government's strategic partners" in the growth of IT & Telecom sector and government will take all steps to facilitate their business in Pakistan.
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