Islamabad: Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Thursday invited Swedish companies to invest in Pakistan’s information technology and telecommunication sector.
“The government is now taking steps to develop information and communication technology (ICT), because ICT development is an important factor for growth,” he said at a roundtable on IT and digitalization with Swedish technology companies. In the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications.
Swedish Ambassador to Pakistan Henrik Persson and representatives of Swedish companies including Ericsson, Need Insights, LCC/Talkpool, Quixel, Saab and Mahaana Wealth Ltd were present.
“The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication is realizing the vision of Digital Pakistan through multi-sectoral initiatives such as laws, policies and rules and regulations to create a digital landscape,” said Princess Fatima.
“Pakistan’s Digital Policy paves the way to take digital transformation to the next level,” the IT Secretary said.
He said, “The government is committed to providing accessible and quality ICT services to the people. Princess Fatimah said that the atmosphere is favorable for investment in Pakistan.”
“The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) facilitates investment in Pakistan and invites Swedish technology companies to invest in Pakistan’s IT and Telecom sector,” he said.
Further, a detailed discussion was held with the Swedish delegation on digitization, connectivity, IT and telecommunication infrastructure, IT exports, startups, e-governance, e-commerce, games and animation and skill development.
A representative of a Swedish technology company suggested that Pakistan, like Sweden, should accelerate steps at the policy level in the IT sector. They said that Pakistan should produce skilled people in IT sector and Swedish companies are ready to train Pakistanis in IT sector.
Ambassador of Sweden Mr. Henrik Persson said on the occasion: “Sweden and Pakistan have good relations, and Sweden wants to develop cooperation with Pakistan in the field of IT and telecommunications.”
Chief Investment Officer Salman Ahmed, Additional Secretary, MoITT Aisha Humera Moriani, Member Telecom Mohammad Jahanzeb Rahim, DG IT Asfand Khanar Khan, DG Telecom Faisal Ratial and DG International Coordinator Syed Jawwad Ali Sherazi were also present.
On behalf of the Swedish Embassy, Dag Juhlin-Dannflet, DG and Head of Global Division, Stina Hinderson, Max Schaaf and PRO Fatima Nasim, Swedish Foreign Affairs Officer at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in the round table.
