For Pakistan’s IT industry, the future is bright. Or it would be if the state recognised the true extent of its potential. Indeed, this industry represents the country’s fastest growing export sector, increasing from less than $20 million for FY 1999-2000 to up to $2.2 billion for FY 2014-15, according to the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). This translates into an annual growth rate of 41 percent. As a first step of goodwill, the government should consider hiring IT professionals from the private sector to help promote this industry at home and abroad. It also would do well to join hands with the rights groups that are working hard to help the country’s women to reclaim the online space, whilst also teaching them to keep themselves safe. In addition, the government could see its way to extending tax exemptions and other incentives to local businesses, which, in turn, would be encouraged to transfer earnings from foreign accounts back to local. As for the PSEB, it could take the lead in conducting extensive workshops for IT start-ups. This would provide a much needed and timely boost to an industry that is expected to see its exports hit $5 billion before 2020. There is no time to lose. According to the PSEB foreign exchange earnings through IT (and related services) exports totalled $306 million in the first half of this fiscal year. Projections for the year’s end put the combined total at $700 million. In reality, however, the aforementioned data may represent a shortfall in the actual size of the country’s exports. This is because not all IT remittances are properly documented. Billions of rupees, for instance, come through freelance work. Not to mention software houses, including software and hardware exports, hardware consultancy services, computer repair and maintenance and call centres. Errors committed in documenting IT foreign exchange earnings undermine the industry’s export earnings (or remittances), insist officials. This is why the State Bank of Pakistan’s remittance figures fall far below the actual amount of IT exports. With more than 60 percent of its population under the age of 30, time is running out for Pakistan. The government owes it to this and future generations to help them take their rightful place at the table of the 21st century. *