How to bring in Pakistani Export Boom: Build a Silicon Valley of your own.

[shah1398]

Introduction
In this current era of competition in almost every field and global recession still threatening world economies, Pakistan has soon to pick one sector which it can use to not only leave its mark in the world but also make it a strong pillar of Pakistani economy that would attract handsome amount of FDI too. The global recession can prove to be a Blessing in disguise if Pakistan can really think of using the current state of world economic affairs to its own benefit.

Probable Sectors
There are many sectors that Pakistan can look into for kick starting its exports as Textiles, Sports Goods, Agriculture Products, Defense related products etc. All these sectors either require heavy investments to make them premier exporting area or already are having quite big players already involved in. But the one sector which can very easily become a boom to Pakistani export in quite short time and reasonable investment/heavy support of Govt, is IT sector.

Why IT Sector?
There are many reasons which merit IT sector to become Pakistan's boom to exports.

(a) Pakistan has a quite a sizable youth based population who are involved in IT sector.
(b) Pakistani IT professionals have left quite a mark in the world of IT on individual basis, indicating that if all that talent is used inside country, it would generate quite good results.

http://www.voicesofyouth.org/en/posts/arfa-karim---inspiring-girl-from-pakistan

https://www.hackread.com/paypal-awards-usd-10000-to-pakistani-hacker-for-reporting-vulnerability/

http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/05/pakistanis-make-up-silicon-valleys.html

http://tribune.com.pk/story/950709/...pakistani-visual-effects-artist-in-hollywood/

https://defence.pk/threads/mir-zafar-ali-–-the-first-oscar-winner-of-pakistan.415971/

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1106136/pakistani-app-developers-making-a-mark/

(c) Pakistan already has healthy base of IT Industry and even without much support from government.

http://propakistani.pk/2016/05/17/pakistans-app-exports-reach-11-million-per-month-during-2015-16/

Punjab Govt is contributing to the cause in its own way.

http://www.web.pk/2015/arfa-karim-it-tower-software-technology-park/

Conclusion
Though a little late but still Pakistan has to look for a field in which in can excel and leave a good mark on the world. IT sector of Pakistan is booming even without much support of the Govt and it wud really take very less efforts for the concerned ministry to streamline this sector. With following few steps Pakistan can become a new Silicon Valley.

(a) Treat IT Sector as a totally separate field and establish IT parks. Treat them a separate body like Industrial parks.
(b) Give tax incentives to all those who would be operating in those IT parks.
(c) Streamline IT sector under umbrella of CPEC.

For further facts following links can be referred.

http://europe.newsweek.com/pakistan-building-silicon-valley-scene-426408?rm=eu

http://www.technologyreview.pk/can-pakistan-become-the-next-silicon-valley/

 

[touela]

IMO we dont need FDI in IT... at least not in the near future... why because first Pak must show the world what it's talent is capable of. Pak Universities student must develope state of the art system which tackles current problems....
How:
1)Collect massive geodata on national plan and let the students develope system, so we know next time where floodings could hit.
2)Use algorithms to develope systems for the police, science etc.
3)Use neural networks
4)Artificial Intelligence
5)make robots for the LSM sector/military etc.
6)Healthcare systems....

That's in my view the desi recipee for Pak Silicon Valley

 

[khanmubashir]

it is imp but we need to develop other sectors too u can't just adjust 100 million + youth in 1 sector alone agriculture is very imp too along with biotech its still backbone and should be developed on modern style

 

[touela]

it is imp but we need to develop other sectors too u can't just adjust 100 million + youth in 1 sector alone agriculture is very imp too along with biotech its still backbone and should be developed on modern style

Regarding agriculture, I remember a small danish company, developed a GIS system. A farmer usually dont get to the boundries of his field, due to crossing over to your neighbor field. But with that system, you get all to the edge....

There are a lot of potential in agri... u just need to send IT people out to farmers and talk with them which kind of daily problems occur, and solve them....

 

[Archie]

In my opinion

Its better to play to your strength

Ready Made Garments is probably one sector that can quickly increase export earnings if its tapped correctly

Look at Bangladesh

Another area is export of Raw material
Start exporting coal

 

[Saeed Fareedi]

it is imp but we have to develop other industries too u can't just adapt 100 million + children in 1 sector alone agriculture is very imp too along with biotech its still backbone and really should be developed on modern style