Peshawar to Get an IT Park

The provincial information technology department on Monday acquired 25,000 square feet space in Peshawar’s Deans Trade Centre for setting up an information technology park. Establishment of a similar park is also planned in Abbottabad.

The government had announced establishment of the two IT parks last year to diversify its investment portfolio and promote information technology sector.

KPITB managing director Amjad Shahid Afridi, on the occasion said that the government had allocated Rs1 billion for the project for the next five years and agreed to release it at once to prevent the project from possible interruptions in case of any change in political dispensation.

Government would subsidize 80 per cent of power and air conditioning costs, while Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited would provide free broadband services to startups in the two IT parks.

MD KPITB mentioned that investors could set up call centers and business process outsourcing and software houses in the two parks but vendors and other services were not included it.

He said the provincial IT minister was to visit Afghanistan in March with a delegation to explore business possibilities there.

“There are huge business opportunities in Afghanistan and Peshawar has the unique opportunity to tap them,” he said, adding that investors could set up Pashto, Dari and Persian call centres at Peshawar IT park to do business in Afghanistan. He said KPITB was considering opening an office in Kabul to facilitate bilateral business relations and investment.

Via Dawn

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Published by
Mehwish Khan