IT Ministry Seeks Three Times Higher Project Development Spending at Over Rs. 70 Billion

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has proposed a sharp increase in development spending, seeking Rs. 71.84 billion for 20 projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2026 to 2027, more than three times higher than the current allocation of Rs. 22.227 billion.

Out of the total proposed amount, Rs. 39.71 billion has been allocated for eight new initiatives, while Rs. 32.13 billion is earmarked for 12 ongoing projects.

The ministry itself accounts for the largest share, proposing Rs. 37.79 billion for five projects, including two new initiatives worth Rs. 33.8 billion. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has sought Rs. 24.39 billion for seven ongoing projects, with no new proposals for the upcoming fiscal year.

Among key projects, the Islamabad IT Park has reached 72 percent physical completion and over 62 percent financial utilization, with Rs. 14.5 billion already spent out of a total cost of Rs. 23.3 billion. Officials expect the project to generate over 5,000 jobs and significantly boost IT exports, with Rs. 6.730 billion proposed for the next fiscal year.

In contrast, progress on the Karachi IT Park remains slow, with only 10 percent physical and 5 percent financial completion against an estimated cost of Rs. 31.2 billion. A modest Rs. 11.500 million has been proposed for the upcoming year.

The government is also expanding support for startups and emerging technologies. Around Rs. 1.802 billion has been proposed for ecosystem development, while Rs. 1.017 billion is allocated for a national semiconductor human resource development program.

The Special Communications Organisation has proposed Rs. 2.67 billion for four projects, including three new initiatives focused on telecom expansion, hybrid power solutions, and improved connectivity in remote areas. A separate Rs. 2.5 billion project aims to extend communication services to underserved regions through new cellular infrastructure.

Other allocations include Rs. 743 million proposed by the National Information Technology Board, Rs. 3 billion by IGNITE for a new initiative, and Rs. 3.24 billion requested by the National Telecommunication and Information Security Board for an ongoing project.