Pakistan IT sector on verge of taking off: Microsoft

[Neo]

Pakistan IT sector on verge of taking off: Microsoft ​

ISLAMABAD (June 02 2008): The country is on the verge of taking off in the information technology (IT) field, following the telecom revolution, says Microsoft Pakistan Country Manager Kamal Ahmed. "I am very hopeful that the explosion in the IT sector will be just like the one we have seen in the country's telecom sector," he told a TV news channel.

He said that it had been observed in many countries that the telecom sector developed ahead of the IT sector. The telecom sector provides the bandwidth, which is the backbone for the IT sector to flourish, he added. He said that software, hardware and technologies are also getting cheaper day by day. So, people are buying more and more personal computers (PCs).

Citing another reason for the expected speedier IT growth, he said that today the businesses are competing against the global forces. To remain competitive, the country's businesses must adopt latest technologies, which provide quality controls and operational efficiencies, he said.

Kamal said he was hopeful that the new government would chalk out a sensible course for the growth of IT in Pakistan. He said that the government could increase its tax revenues and socio-economic growth by checking software piracy and promoting the sale of legal software.

He said that Microsoft is very much active in the corporate social responsibility area. The company has set up an 'IT academy' in cooperation with the 'Zindagi Trust'--an organisation being run by pop singer Shehzad Roy--where the undeserved school children are taught IT to enable them realise their full potential.

In his message to the youth, Kamal said, "Our young generation should make best use of the time it has at its disposal and study very hard." Secondly, they should never compromise on ethics, he said, and stressed: "Focus on becoming a better human being first and then a better professional."

Osman Maqbool, 'Small & Mid Market Solutions & Partners' Manager, Microsoft Pakistan, said, "Pakistan is one of the key emerging markets and offers a great potential." Over the last two years, he said, Microsoft has focused on developing its partners in Pakistan to serve its consumers and the businesses.

Microsoft has also focused quite extensively on utilisation of legal software and its benefits. "We have seen there is a great response against such awareness campaigns," he added.

Salma Nisar, Technical Account Manager, Microsoft Pakistan, highlighted the enterprise services and support offered by the global software leader. She spoke about how Microsoft Enterprise Services enables customers to realise the true value of their investment in Microsoft Platform through various infrastructure optimisation initiatives. Afzaal Mirza, Citizenship Lead, talked about the Microsoft Citizenship Initiative, which supports education, innovations, corporate social responsibility, Internet security and privacy, as well as community investment.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

IT industry growing 50pc annually ​

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

KARACHI: The country’s information technology & IT-enabled services industry stands at $2 billion annually with a 50 per cent annual growth rate.

IT exports stand at $1 billion, according to a research study commissioned by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA).

Pakistan Software Export Board estimates show a higher figure of $2.8 billion as the industry size and $1.8 billion exports. This was stated by Jehan Ara, President Pakistan Software Houses Association while talking to the media during a one-day Career Expo for IT students and professionals organized by the association on Sunday.

Thousands of young IT professionals and fresh graduates visited the Career Expo to explore and apply for job openings posted by participating companies. They appeared in on-the-spot interviews, listened to eminent speakers and interacted with CEOs, CIOs and HR heads of ICT local and international companies regarding career opportunities.

IT professionals and students learnt about the different career tracks in various segments of the ICT sector, participated in interactive workshops, listened to company presentations and attended career counseling sessions.

Jehan Ara said Pakistan produces approximately 20,000 IT graduates annually, who need proper guidance in order to explore their true potential. Currently over 110,000 IT professionals are working in IT sector and there is a lot more potential for quality IT HR. The IT industry needs people with different skill sets, in addition to computer science graduates, they also require business analysts, domain specialists, project managers, senior management, marketing professionals, call centre professionals, animations, interface designers amongst others.

IT industry growing 50pc annually

 

[Neo]

IT industry size stands at $2 billion: President PASHA​

KARACHI (July 23 2008): The size of Pakistan's Information Technology & IT-enabled Services industry stands at two billion dollar annually with a 50 per cent growth rate. IT Exports stand at one billion dollar according to a Research Study commissioned by Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA)

This was stated by Jehan Ara, President PASHA, while talking to the Media during a one-day Career Expo for IT students and professionals organised by PASHA in a local hotel. However, she said that, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) claimed a higher figure with 2.8 billion dollar industry size and 1.8 billion-dollar exports.

IT professionals and students learnt about the different career tracks in various segments of the ICT sector, participated in Interactive workshops, listened to company presentations and attended Career counselling sessions.

President PASHA said that PASHA is creating a career experience for the young people so that they are more knowledgeable about the kind of challenging careers and remuneration that is available to them across the spectrum of ICT and are also aware of the growth and maturity of the sector they are either joining or are already a part of. Jehan Ara said that Pakistan produces approximately 20,000 IT graduates annually, who need proper guidance in order to explore their true potential. Currently over 110,000 IT professionals are working in IT sector and there is a lot more potential for quality IT HR.

The IT industry needs people with different skill sets - in addition to Computer Science graduates, they also require business analysts, domain specialists, project managers, senior management, marketing professionals, call centre professionals, animations, Interface Designers amongst others.-PR

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[Neo]

IT sector Witnesses 30-50pc growth​

KARACHI, Nov 4: Pakistan’s IT and ITES sector has been growing at the rate of between 30 and 50pc annually. This growth is being witnessed for the past five years with the largest member of companies grossing between $15 and 30m in annual revenue and receiving $100m valuations.

“Many that started with a small number of people have grown to strong 40-50 people product companies or service companies with teams of 300 to one,000 people, and this growth has resulted in high-paid employment for knowledge workers and an increasingly changing image of technology savvy Pakistan,” said Imran Zia, Chairman, Pakistan Software Houses Association in his opening remarks at the annual flagship ICT awards event recently.

In its 4th year, the awards event recognised creativity and innovation in the local ICT sector and encourages excellence, the emergence of new ideas and entrepreneurship and was attended by a 300 strong contingent from the corporate sector, the ICT sector, the government and faculty and university students, says a press release.

 

[Always Neutral]

IT sector Witnesses 30-50pc growth​

KARACHI, Nov 4: Pakistan’s IT and ITES sector has been growing at the rate of between 30 and 50pc annually. This growth is being witnessed for the past five years with the largest member of companies grossing between $15 and 30m in annual revenue and receiving $100m valuations.

“Many that started with a small number of people have grown to strong 40-50 people product companies or service companies with teams of 300 to one,000 people, and this growth has resulted in high-paid employment for knowledge workers and an increasingly changing image of technology savvy Pakistan,” said Imran Zia, Chairman, Pakistan Software Houses Association in his opening remarks at the annual flagship ICT awards event recently.

In its 4th year, the awards event recognised creativity and innovation in the local ICT sector and encourages excellence, the emergence of new ideas and entrepreneurship and was attended by a 300 strong contingent from the corporate sector, the ICT sector, the government and faculty and university students, says a press release.

Great for Pakistan. Its truly good and such examples will encourage youngsters to follow business instead of jihad.

Regards

 

[mujahideen]

Unless our government creates jobs and raises the standard of living for the population, terrorism will always be a problem for us.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan’s IT sector as good as India’s: ICT task force ​

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

LAHORE: Pakistan’s IT infrastructure by and large is comparable to India, except for a few pockets in Bangalore and other areas.

This was pointed out in a meeting of the Task Force on Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) with Salim Ghauri in the chair.

He supported the idea of encouraging the industry to take part in more international events and present its young faces to paint a soft image of Pakistan worldwide. The chairman appreciated the proposal of producing multi-media content and short films on Pakistan as well as its IT industry to promote its soft image abroad.

It was also suggested in the meeting that revenue estimation study of the IT sector in Pakistan will not only discover the industry structure, major players, etc, but will also try to project how the industry will evolve over time in the next 5-10 years. For example, he said, the technician that fixes ATM machines for banks is in all probability not included in any revenue estimation exercise currently. That ought to change.

Building on the revenue estimation study, added the participants, further steps would be taken in collaboration with Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) to conduct an HR study to assess the skill set and number of students that should be graduating to match the needs of the industry. These studies will help the government in the allocation of appropriate budgets for certain segments of ICT education, launching programmes and encouraging private sector by offering incentives in certain segments of ICT.

The Chairman ICT Task Force also agreed with the participants that a grand IT conference at convention centres in Islamabad, Karachi, etc, with everyone connected to the IT industry may also be organised with invitees including consumers of IT (banks, multinationals, govt departments), producers of IT and intellectual property (companies in PSEB, P@SHA and others) and academic institutions.