Pakistan aims to emerge as technological superpower

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan government aims to transform the country into a technological superpower within the next 10 years. The cities of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad will be turned into special economic zones.

In the next phase, a 200-acre health city will be built in Faisalabad, the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, announced on July 11. 

He disclosed that the technology industry and businesses will be granted special incentives in these economic zones. According to him, the Ministry of Science and Technology has adopted ‘Made in Pakistan’ projects under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. 

“In Pakistan, sanitisers and masks were either not found or being sold in black (illegally), he regretted, adding that the country is not only fulfilling its needs now, it is exporting these products in millions. 

He also urged international companies to work in the country, assuring them of a competitive environment and relaxed tax structure. A first batch of local made ventilators had already handed over to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) by the Prime Minister last week. 

The Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Health had also earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the indigenous development of electro-medical devices.