The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, through the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to engage a consultancy firm to review project documents for the Establishment of IT Park Karachi project.
The move marks the start of a third-party assessment to evaluate key technical and contractual documents before the government proceeds to the next phase of implementation.
According to the EOI, consultancy firms with experience in the preparation, execution, and review of construction contracts and project documentation have been invited to participate. The selected firm will examine feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, Bills of Quantities (BOQs), technical specifications, cost estimates, and other associated documents.
The review is expected to help authorities reassess the project’s design and execution strategy amid concerns that the construction timeline was aligned with that of the Islamabad IT Park despite Karachi’s project being considerably larger in scale.
The decision follows a series of procurement challenges that have slowed progress on the flagship technology infrastructure project. Multiple tendering attempts reportedly failed to attract bidders, prompting the ministry to revisit key project conditions and procurement requirements.
Officials believe that lessons learned from delays experienced in the Islamabad IT Park project could help make the Karachi initiative more practical and attractive for prospective contractors. Following the completion of the independent review, the government is expected to relaunch the bidding process.
With an estimated cost exceeding Rs. 31 billion, the Karachi IT Park remains one of Pakistan’s largest technology infrastructure projects. Official figures indicate that physical progress has reached around 10 percent, while financial progress stands at nearly 5 percent.
Although the project is planned over a six-year period, implementation has already been delayed by almost three years. To maintain momentum, the Ministry of IT has sought an allocation of Rs. 11.5 billion in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2026-27.
The project has also faced complications related to its location near Jinnah International Airport, where objections from the Civil Aviation Authority resulted in revisions to the building’s height and design, as well as the cancellation of the original land allotment.
Despite these hurdles, preliminary works, including boundary wall construction and geotechnical testing, have been completed, while detailed designs have been prepared by international consultants.
Once completed, the Karachi IT Park is expected to accommodate more than 200 technology companies, providing office space, research facilities, a data center, and other modern amenities aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s digital economy and innovation ecosystem.