NetSol CEO Briefs Prime Minister of IT industry Growth Potential

LAHORE: Chairman & CEO NetSol Technologies Ltd Salim Ghauri has briefed the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani about the potential of the Information Technology (IT) industry to grow in Pakistan, already marking a billion dollar export every year.

In his meeting with the Prime Minister the other day, Mr Ghauri said IT industry has a strong potential to contribute national economy. Secretary Ministry of Information Technology and Chairman Pakistan Software Export Board were also present on the occasion. Mr Ghauri said the IT industry was growing much more than 25% per annum and competition for hiring human resource is increasing among IT companies with every passing day. He further mentioned that the IT industry was the right answer to energy shortage in the country, as none of the IT companies have ever closed their businesses for a single day despite severe load shedding since November 2007. Besides, he said, the IT industry is the only sector whose exports are not affected like textile industry due to the closure of Karachi port.

Chairman NetSol said the government should realize the difference between Pakistan and the Indian IT industry, as Pakistan was exporting software and India was merely exporting services. He said his company NetSol has sold software to India and occupies 90% of the Chinese market. He further pointed out that Pakistan IT industry has attracted a large number of international buyers due to quality and timely delivery of software and IT relating services worldwide. He said the demand for human resource in IT companies of the country is increasing with every passing day. Mr Ghauri suggested the Prime Minister to announce Rs5000 per month stipend for IT graduates from smaller cities, especially the Sothern Punjab, to settle and work with IT companies in major cities. The Prime Minister appreciated the suggestion and directed the concerned authorities to initiate the scheme immediately.

Mr Ghauri also mentioned about the discontinuation of government subsidy to IT companies for attaining quality assurance of products for last two years and demanded its earliest resumption in the larger interest of the IT industry of Pakistan. The Prime Minister approved the suggestion accordingly on the occasion.