Tag: cloud computing

  • IT sector’s GDP contribution will increase from 2.7% to 13% by 2025: MoITT

    IT sector’s GDP contribution will increase from 2.7% to 13% by 2025: MoITT

    According to estimates from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), the GDP share of the digital and information technology (IT) sectors would rise to 13 per cent by 2025 as a result of the rapid growth of the digital economy over the next five years.

    MoITT’s offical documents reveal that the size of the digital economy will significantly increase over the next five years as Pakistan’s adoption of digital technology expands. In the upcoming years, the GDP’s share of the digital economy will increase, according to Brecorder.

    While the GDP contribution of the digital and IT sectors will rise from 2.7 per cent to 13 per cent, the GDP contribution of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) core industry will rise from 1.2 per cent to 8.15 per cent.

    According to the data that is currently available, Pakistan’s digital economy is measured in two ways, i.e. The key industries of ICT, digital technology, and IT. The ICT core industry’s share of the global GDP in 2019 was 1.2 per cent. The IT and telecom industry in Pakistan makes about 2.7 per cent of the country’s GDP.

    Modern ICTs have the ability to accelerate social and economic growth, and this promise will be further realised with the maturation of four enabling technologies: IoT, cloud computing, big data analytics, and AI.

    The cornerstone for nations to build a digital economy and improve their overall economic competitiveness and well-being is ICT infrastructure and services. They can support sustainable cities and communities by lowering poverty and hunger, improving health, generating new jobs, reducing climate change, and enhancing energy efficiency.

    In low- and middle-income nations, mobile remains the main method by which many users access the internet (LMICs). The Information Technology University (ITU) estimates that 87 per cent of broadband connections in developing nations occurred through mobile devices in 2019. Mobile networks and devices are propelling economic growth by connecting consumers and businesses and delivering public and commercial e-services across a range of industries.

    According to the report, Pakistan’s mobile ecosystem is becoming more and more crucial to the country’s economic development due to its direct impact on GDP and the productivity and efficiency benefits it fosters in a variety of economic sectors.

    The majority of nations currently use 4G as the cornerstone of mobile broadband, and this number is continually increasing. The switch from 4G to 5G is happening at the same time all across the world.

    In 2019, 4G connections made up more than 50 per cent of all mobile connections worldwide for the first time, according to the most recent GSMA research. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), 4G covered 82 per cent of the population compared to 90 per cent for 3G. Compared to 10 years for 3G, LMICs took about seven years to reach more than 80 per cent coverage for 4G.

  • ‘Japan to hire thousands of IT experts from Pakistan’

    ‘Japan to hire thousands of IT experts from Pakistan’

    The Government of Japan has decided to hire thousands of IT professionals from Pakistan in the coming years. As per details, the Japanese government is looking for people with expertise in cloud computing, data sciences, programming and artificial intelligence (AI).

    Delegations from the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) met officials from the Ministry of Overseas and Human Resources Development and experts from the Pakistan Association of Software Houses for IT and ITES (P@SHA) for recruitment.

    It is also mandatory to learn the basic Japanese language besides degrees and required skills to avail job opportunities in Japan.

    Furthermore, the above-stated organisations and departments will give visas, funds for travel and other expenses to the hired candidates.

    Both countries have collaborated because Japan needs programmers and people with expertise in AI and data sciences. But, they added that the Pakistani government have to arrange boot camps for six months to one year to train people with the required skills.

    This step has been taken to balance the cultural diversity as Indians and Bangladeshi IT companies are already dominating the Japanese market.

    The Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) has recently begun to advertise jobs for hiring different professionals.

    Pakistan is currently producing over 25,000 IT graduates every year in various disciplines of IT and computer sciences.

    Experts say that Pakistan’s export of IT professionals could reach nearly 1,000 per year, which is a good number in the prevailing circumstances.

    The local industry has been expanding its businesses in various dimensions in the past one and half years to meet the demand of the local and foreign markets, which has resulted in significant job openings for new graduates in recent months.

    More than 16,000 Pakistanis reside in various cities of Japan. This community maintains a positive image in Japan and linkages with the department of the host country that help Pakistani students in the pursuit of their careers and businesses.

  • Amazon enters Pakistan to provide web services

    Amazon enters Pakistan to provide web services

    Amazon is forming a team to establish Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Pakistan to drive the adoption of cloud computing. Amazon has also registered a local office under the name Amazon Data Services Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. 

    According to the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) database, the Pakistan office is led by Paul Andrew Macpherson as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), while Shoaib Munir is a director. 

    A spokesperson from Amazon shared that the technology leaders are currently seeking a public policy specialist with a focus on driving AWS cloud computing solution adoption in Pakistan. The role focuses on removing regulatory and political blockers to cloud adoption. 

    Whenever big companies enter small markets, it is common practice for them to appoint an advisor on public policy. When Bytedance, the parent company of Tiktok entered Pakistan, they hired Hassan Arshad to work with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on policy infrastructure.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) directed banks to utilise cloud computing technology under the condition that systems and service providers shall be located in Pakistan along with all physical servers and services. 

    Under this rule, AWS would need to set up its data center and cloud server in the country. 

    According to the e-commerce policy framework of Pakistan, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication is in the process of formulating Pakistan’s first cloud policy, while the Draft Data Protection Act is at an advanced stage of consultations.

    AWS hopes to work with relevant government departments in Pakistan as they develop and revise policies related to the digital economy, including cloud-first policies, data protection regulations, outsourcing guidelines, cybersecurity policies, tax policy, and over the top regulations. They will also proactively build relationships with key policymakers, politicians, and influencers.