LAHORE: Punjab’s first ever Information Technology Policy 2018 premised upon five pillars extending support to the industry, bridging the digital divide, e-governance, citizen centric services and entrepreneurship approved by the Provincial Cabinet in its last meeting on Thursday, which is focused to bridge the digital divide across gender, region and economic classes and achieve accessible and affordable access for all and to position Punjab as the IT Research & Development and innovation hub of Pakistan. With this approval, Punjab has now become the first province to launch its IT Policy. Explaining the salient features of the policy document, Punjan Information Technology Board Chairman Dr Umar Saif informed a group of media persons who called on him on Thursday and said that it proved government’s commitment to use Information & Communications Technology as an enabling tools for improving governance, efficiency, transparency and accountability. The policy document consolidates all initiatives taken in the sector and also sets a future roadmap that will take the province to its ultimate destination which is making Punjab the hub of IT. He said that it would establish Punjab as the preferred destination for local and international investment in the IT/ITES/EHM industries, enable the entrepreneurial ecosystem to flourish in the field of IT/ITES/EHM, increase financial inclusion and incentives investment in innovative ICT technologies to promote e-commerce in the province, create an enabling environment for IT Technologies and their safe usage through policy reform and improvements in legal framework, use ICTs for enhancing the capabilities of citizens and setting forward a more inclusive and broader human development agenda, to endeavour for rapid expansion and growth of the knowledge based economy in the province, strengthen and build human resource and increase employment opportunities through the use of ICTs and to utilise ICT for a more efficient transparent and green governance model in Punjab. The Punjab’s IT Policy 2018 would attract long-term investments, improve export remittances and increase new IT parks through technology Special Economic Zones throughout the country, he stated. Being one of the main pillars of this policy, the government of Punjab has laid great emphasis on it and has extensively used technology in improving efficiency and governance across several sectors. While presenting the policy document before the cabinet, PITB Dr Umar Saif informed the cabinet that the process of the policy formulation started one and a half years back and during its formulation stage, it was ensured that the process was inclusive, outward looking, joint and evidence based so that a well-rounded effective policy document could be produced. To maintain the highest standards of input, several focus group discussions and individual consultation sessions were conducted along with rigorous in-house research. More than 150 individuals from across all key sectors have provided input in this document. The policy was also opened for public comments for two months, he informed. The specific policy commitments in this regard are establishment of common resource and service centres and public Wi-fi hotspots in remote areas and promotion of ease of access for women at these service centres. Moreover, the policy also talks about the promotion of private sector investment in e-learning initiatives through tax-breaks and engagement with global online learning platforms for provision of quality content in regional languages. The policy document aims to address all aspects of the IT sector, including industry, entrepreneurship, academia etc. The IT sector in Pakistan is growing rapidly, which is evident from IT export figures of reliable sources. Providing support and creating a conducive environment for the IT & other related businesses has been among the top priorities of the government. Various steps have been taken in this regard which include payment of government taxes such as stamp duty through e-stamping, collection of other government receipts through online mediums; getting permission to start a new business under ease of doing business initiatives, acquiring hassle-free warehouse construction permits from e-Khidmat Markaz, tax exemptions for telecoms sector & IT businesses, construction of technology parks and knowledge parks, and facilitation in setting up a new industry in any of the industrial zones in Punjab through One Window Service Centres. Some of the proposed initiatives are the establishment of the dedicated SEZs and Industrial Cities for Information Technology through which the industry will greatly benefit from tax breaks and exemptions in export duties, among other things, construction of technology parks in Lahore and other cities of the province and reduction in taxes on IT and IT enabled businesses which will not only facilitate these businesses, but will also bring more businesses into the tax net. The government also plans to take extensive measures for the formation of the hardware manufacturing industry through ODMs along with proposing an e-commerce regime by means of technical and legal considerations. Published in Daily Times, June 1st 2018.