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ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP):Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology Sabeen Ghauri on Thursday said that Pakistan has established 25 state-of-the-art Software Technology Parks across 20 cities, aimed to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and create employment opportunities nationwide.
During the Question Hour in the National Assembly, she said that the government has ensured regional inclusivity, with cities like Sargodha and several remote areas also included in the project list.
“Some members earlier raised concerns about their regions being overlooked, but I want to assure them that this initiative covers both major urban centers and smaller regions across Pakistan,” she said.
Ghauri revealed that the Islamabad IT Park is over 90% complete and expected to become operational by early 2026. Once launched, the park expected to create 7,500 jobs and to contribute around $60 million annually to IT exports.
She also provided updates on the Karachi IT Park, which is being developed in collaboration with a Korean company and financial institutions.
The project, initially delayed due to regulatory and coordination challenges, now has a revised completion target of 2027. Upon completion, it is expected to add $90 million to annual IT exports.
On a supplementary question about cyber scams and spam calls, Ghauri acknowledged that even parliamentarians have been targeted by such fraudulent activities.
She explained that while cyber-crime cases fall under the Ministry of Interior, the IT Ministry’s National CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) works closely with the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing to contain and investigate such incidents.
Ghauri shared her personal experience of receiving scam calls impersonating government officials.
“These numbers appear to be legitimate mobile numbers, but in reality, they’re computer-generated and often untraceable,” she explained. She further suggested that government websites should display official email addresses instead of personal phone numbers to protect officials from potential data misuse.
She emphasized that efforts are underway to block spam numbers and enhance cyber-security protocols, ensuring citizens’ data remains safe as Pakistan continues its journey toward a digitally empowered economy.
She also informed the house that punishments for cyber offenses have been enhanced, and citizens can file complaints directly via the FIA’s online portal for issues such as WhatsApp hacking or data breaches.