IT ministry to soon begin cooperation with China under CPEC framework

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT) has approached Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms to promote IT cooperation between China and Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

“IT is the 7th pillar of long-term CPEC framework and the IT Ministry has written a letter to the Ministry of Planning, Development & Reforms for its formal activation,” said a senior official of the IT Ministry.

The official further said that the proposed ICT sector development under the CPEC framework comprises artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, robotics, emerging technology, automation, e-governance and manufacturing plants as well as technology parks.

Sources further said that cooperation in this sector under CPEC framework would help in attracting investment, creation of hundreds of jobs opportunities, automation as well as cost saving. He said that the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms has been formally asked for arranging a meeting with Chinese counterparts to move forward on the 7th pillar of the long-term plan.

The Chinese government initiated over $60 billion worth of infrastructure development projects under the CPEC framework. Most of the projects pertain to energy and road sectors. While the first stage of CPEC has almost been completed, the next stage focuses on industrial developments.

Pakistan is fast-growing telecom market with subscribers of mobile phones having crossed the 161 million mark compared with the country’s population of around 210 million. Of total subscribers, around 70 million use 3G/4G.

There are 71 million broadband subscribers. The country imports millions of dollars of mobile phones to meet the local requirements with facility of manufacturing and assembling of handheld devices is not present in the country.

The government has dropped the Telephone Industry of Pakistan (TIP) from the privatization list and is mulling to establish mobile phone handsets plant in collaboration with private sector for its revival. The government is engaged with different Chinese companies for establishing mobile handset manufacturing plant in Haripur.

The move would help reduce the country’s import bill, create jobs and save huge foreign exchange reserves. The ministry envisages exploring new business models for future projects and joint ventures in the country. Further Chinese government can contribute to the e-governance initiative as well in centralizing data to improve efficiency and productivity. The investment in the IT and telecom sector would increase manifold with the inclusion of this sector into CPEC framework.