About Us

Overview

Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is an apex Government body mandated to promote Pakistan's IT Industry in local and international markets. PSEB facilitates the IT industry through a series of projects and programs in infrastructure development, human capital development, company capability development, international marketing, strategy and research, and the promotion of innovation and technologies.

Government incentives to the international outsourcing community include 100% equity ownership, 100% repatriation of capital and dividends, and income tax exemption for IT companies till 2016. Pakistan has a large talent-pool of English-speaking, cost-competitive and skilled workforce, a large number of internationally-certified companies and reliable telecom infrastructure. PSEB works extensively with international trade associations, commerce bodies and the media to promote Pakistan's IT industry. PSEB has more than 1500 IT companies, which possess expertise in custom software development, enterprise Resource planning (ERP), financial solutions, mobile content, document management, enterprise computing and business process outsourcing (BPO).

Mission

"PSEB mission is to enable fast track sustainable growth of Pakistani IT industry."

Aims and Objectives

To achieve its aims and objectives linked with promoting Pakistan's IT Industry, PSEB performs the following major functions:

• Undertake research and study regarding the state of Pakistan's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, and propose strategies to fast-track sustainable development in software and services; IT-enabled services, and hardware in both export and domestic markets.
• Study the IT laws and regulations of various competitor countries, and propose improvements and modifications in Pakistan's public policy for the IT industry.
• Register IT companies in Pakistan, and propose and provide fiscal, regulatory and corporate incentives and facilitation to them. Act as a one-stop shop to cater to all the needs of an IT company for setting up or facilitating its IT business ventures in Pakistan. Act as a bridge between private IT companies and various Government bodies.
• Work with telecom regulators and operators to reduce broadband bandwidth tariffs/rates, and improve quality in order to maintain international competitiveness.
• Plan, develop and establish Software Technology Parks (STPs) and IT Parks in Pakistan.
• Determine Pakistan's IT industry's human capital requirements, and work to address them in collaboration with other entities.
• Develop and execute a marketing plan to help local software companies reach out to potential clients abroad; attract and facilitate foreign software firms to establish their software development facilities in Pakistan. Arrange for Pakistan's IT industry to participate in domestic and international IT events. Provide protocol, hosting and matchmaking facilities for foreign delegates and investors. Establish a web portal for customers, investors and companies, and prepare and disseminate marketing collateral.
• Develop IT companies' capability by assisting them in acquiring quality, security and other certifications.
• Facilitate IT companies' growth by enabling access to equity and debt-financing, and by fostering an entrepreneurial culture.
• Target the development of specialized fields, such as ERP for Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs), and open source technologies, to create a snowball affect.

PSEB is a guarantee limited company with a Board of Directors comprising representatives of the Government, industry associations and the private sector. PSEB is Government-owned, and is mandated to promote Pakistan's Information Technology (IT) industry.

In order to achieve this objective, PSEB undertakes a number of programs:

• About 700,000 square feet of IT-enabled space has been leased out to IT companies in PSEB-designated IT Parks, and there are plans to construct several new Parks over the next couple of years.
• PSEB also operates one of the most successful quality certification programs in the world, under which 110 IT companies have received International Standards Organization (ISO) certification.
• There are a number of human resource development initiatives, including an internship program which has received national recognition for placing 2500 interns within the IT industry – 80% of whom have been permanently employed.
• PSEB works extensively with the international and domestic media in order to promote Pakistan's IT industry, and also subsidizes participation in international trade shows and delegations. Under a new targeted marketing program, Pakistan's key strengths in animation, call centers, finance, gaming, medical transcription, and other areas will be offered to promising markets.
• PSEB also plans to launch a Venture Capital (VC) Fund that will be part of an ecosystem for IT financing. The organization also advocates industry perspectives with a number of Government agencies related to data protection, intellectual property protection, tariffs, taxation, and other areas.
• Facilitation activities offered to IT companies include assistance in visa processing, call center certification, software import, and access to a number of PSEB-commissioned, as well as international studies and reports.

All PSEB activities are part of an integrated strategy and action plan whose mission is to achieve fast track growth of the Pakistani IT industry from 2 billion dollars in 2006 to 10 billion dollars by 2010 – including global export receipts, domestic IT services, software and hardware.

History

In 1995, it was felt by the Government of Pakistan that to guide and nourish the development of the software industry in the country, and to provide one-stop facilitation on behalf of all ministries, departments and agencies of Government of Pakistan in matters relating to the setting up of the software development and export business in the private sector, an organization needed to be created as no such existing Government of Pakistan Department was providing the said services. It is important to note that, at that period, significant strides were being made by India in this direction.

In line with this realization, Private Software Export Board (PSEB) was established by means of an executive order vide Cabinet Division's notification dated 12th June 1995. The said notification outlined the composition and functions of the Board. The Board of Directors comprises of seven members, all nominees of the Federal Government. One nominee is traditionally from the private sector. The primary and most significant task entrusted with the board was the formation of a national software policy to facilitate the rapid development of the Pakistan software industry.

The word 'Private' in the name of the organization was substituted by the word 'Pakistan' by the Ministry of Communication, Government of Pakistan in September 1997. Hence the name became "PAKISTAN SOFTWARE EXPORT BOARD (PSEB)".

Since PSEB was operating on a small scale and its main activities were limited to company registrations and renewals, limited interaction with the local software industry, and occasionally participation in seminars and international exhibitions, it was realized that opportunities in the IT sector could be better tapped if PSEB were to become a more independent organization. PSEB was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance - 1984, in June 1998.

Major Functions

• Undertake research and study on the state of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and propose strategies for fast track and sustainable development of the Pakistan IT industry including software and services, IT enabled services, and hardware in both export and domestic markets.
• Study the laws and regulations of various competitor countries and propose improvements and modifications in Pakistan public policy impacting the IT industry in the light of Pakistan's requirements.
• Register IT companies in Pakistan and propose and provide fiscal, regulatory and corporate incentives and facilitation to them. Act as a one-stop shop to cater to all the needs of an IT company for setting up or facilitating its IT business ventures in Pakistan. Act as a bridge between the private IT companies and the various government bodies.
• Work with telecom regulators and operators to reduce broadband bandwidth tariffs and rates and improve quality in order to maintain international competitiveness.
• Plan, develop and establish "Software Technology Parks" and IT Parks in Pakistan
• Determine human capital requirements of the IT industry and work to address these needs in collaboration with other entities.
• Develop and execute a marketing plan to help local software companies reach out to potential clients abroad, attract and facilitate foreign software firms to establish their software development facilities in Pakistan. Arrange the participation of Pakistani IT Industry in domestic and international IT events. Provide protocol, hosting and match-making facilities for foreign delegates and investors. Establish a web portal for customers, investors and companies and prepare and disseminate marketing collateral.
• Develop company capability by assisting them in acquiring quality, security and other certifications.
• Facilitate company growth by enabling access to equity and debt financing and by fostering an entrepreneurial culture.
• Undertake targeted development of sectors like ERP for Small and Medium Industry and Open Source Technologies to boost these sectors and create a snow ball affect.

Management Team

PSEB is registered as a Guarantee Limited company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. Owned 100% by the Government of Pakistan, it falls within the administrative control of the Ministry of Information Technology, and is governed through a Board of Directors appointed by the Prime Minister. Chaired by the Federal Minister for Information Technology in his ex-officio capacity, the other Directors on the Board include the Chairman of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the Federal Secretary IT, the Federal Secretary Finance, the Managing Director PSEB, the Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), and a prominent member of the IT industry, currently Mr. Salim Ghauri Chairman & CEO NetSol Technologies. All the Directors except for Mr. Salim Ghauri are on the Board by virtue of their official positions and not in their individual capacities.

PSEB obtains funding from three sources:

• A direct grant from the Federal Government, in the form of an annual budget.
• PSEB also generates some funds through the registration fee that it collects from the IT companies, and also from the sale of bandwidth within the IT Parks that it manages.
• PSEB manages projects funded by the annual Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) through the Ministry of Information Technology.

These funds are typically in the range of Rs. 60 million per year.

PSEB employs a core group of about 109 people, with various others being employed on PSDP projects as per the demands of each project. With regional offices in Karachi and Lahore, PSEB's head office is in Islamabad, which is where the senior management team is located.

PSEB's senior management team includes:

Mr. Muhammad Saleem Ranjha, Managing Director
Mr. Nasir Khan Afridi, Director Infrastructure
Mr. Shaukat Ali, Director Technical/CTO
Mr. Sulman Hassan, Director International Marketing
Syed Ali Abbas Hasani, Director Operations & Administration
Mr. Sajid Mahmood Warraich, Director Finance
Mr. Saif-ur-Rahman Korai, Director Projects

Careers

PSEB is a rapidly growing, forward-thinking national organization, providing a congenial work environment, ample opportunities for professional growth and development, and competitive remuneration packages. We are constantly looking for talented individuals who possess the will to succeed, and the keen energy required to create an impact at the national level.

We provide career opportunities to qualified individuals with industry experience, and internship opportunities for fresh graduates.

If you are a committed individual, with excellent interpersonal communication skills, an ability to work well with a dynamic team, and have the drive to succeed, please visit our recruitment website at http://jobs.pseb.org.pk/ today to begin your rewarding career!