The National Technology Council (NTC) of the Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the country’s Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) recently held a productive working meeting in Islamabad to advance Pakistan’s technology sector and enhance its global competitiveness.
Both organizations agreed to collaborate to develop synergies to support each other and jointly formulate a path for a tech-driven economic future for the country.
The meeting, led by NTC Chairman Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, discussed contemporary challenges facing Pakistan’s technology industry, including tech infrastructure, human capital, rural inclusion, job creation, technology curricula, training programs, and collaborations between academia, industry, and government.
Azfar Manzoor, Chairman of STZA, expressed his intention to work with NTC and discussed the potential impact of the collaboration between and NTC and STZA on Pakistan’s technology sector. He called for stakeholder collaboration to pave the way for Pakistan to become a leading hub for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
During the meeting, STZA Chief Commercial Officer Javaid Iqbal briefed the delegation on the authority’s efforts to provide incentives, licensing, and digital one-window support. He also emphasized the need to align human capital development with emerging trends in the tech industry through bootcamps and two-year rapid enablement degree programs for technology students across Pakistan.
NTC Chairman Gilani offered his support and underlined the potential of a partnership between the two organizations in addressing the challenges faced by Pakistan’s technology sector and unlocking its growth potential.
The collaboration between NTC and STZA is a significant step towards strengthening technology ecosystem in Pakistan – a country of nearly 230 million. With the right investment in tech infrastructure, human capital, and partnerships between academia, industry, and government, Pakistan has the potential to become a major regional player in the tech industry.
