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Marketing
PSEB promotes the image of the Pakistan IT industry in key
markets abroad, enables trade interaction with international
parties, and facilitates the entry of multi-national development
and support centres into Pakistan.
Strategy
In conjunction with stakeholders like PASHA, the industry
association, PSEB has developed a vision and strategic roadmap
to fast track IT industry growth.
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First draft of
the PSEB Commissioned Gartner Group Study on the Pakistan IT
industry is expected in the third week of September. The Study will
analyze and benchmark the Pakistan IT industry and provide a
strategy to move forward.
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The first
meeting of the Working Group of the IT Industry Statistics Committee
was held on 23rd August 2007. Representatives of State
Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of Commerce, Federal Bureau of Statistics
and PSEB discussed the implementation of measures to improve the
accuracy and reliability of IT industry revenue reporting. |
Office Space Provision
PSEB plans to build IT Parks in different cities and
currently operates over 750,000 square feet of Software
Technology Parks (STP) in eleven buildings across the country.
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Two international consortiums submitted proposals for the
construction of the Chak Shahzad IT Park in Islamabad by the bid
deadline of September 13. Proposals are being evaluated.
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Industry HR
PSEB works with
the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to increase the influx
of quality graduates into the industry, facilitates matching
of graduates with IT companies, provides on-going trainings
and certifications to professionals, and undertakes research
to benchmark IT professionals and graduates in the country.
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To date, seven hundred and ten IT professionals have
participated in PSEB-sponsored trainings and three thousand and
forty four interns have been placed.
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A Specialized
training grant has been provided to M/s Infotech for Siebel business
analytics training under a PSEB program. Other companies are
encouraged to apply as funds are available.
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PSEB has received thirty one applications for its Apprenticeship
Program which are being reviewed. A total of six proposals have been
forwarded to the R&D Fund following whetting and revision.
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Public Policy
PSEB
facilitates the creation of a public policy
environment including taxes, tariffs, trade, and
intellectual property protection to enable the
growth of the IT industry.
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M/s Jamil and Jamil, who have been
contracted by PSEB to prepare a Data Confidentiality Law, are
expected to submit the first deliverable; which is a report on
industry need assessment and gap analysis in the first week of
October 2007.
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The Prime Minister’s Secretariat is
considering a PSEB proposal for the removal of GST on computers and
of import duties and levies on call center equipment following
feedback by FBR (Federal Bureau of Revenue).
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PTA has formed a committee to bring the
PKNIC registry from USA to Pakistan, which will enable routing of
all .pk domain within the country. PTA has also issued the final
draft on IP Telephony Framework following industry feedback. Further
comments can be provided at
www.pta.gov.pk
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The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill
is being debated afresh by the Ministry of IT, Mr. Zahid Jamil and
other stakeholders, in order to remove possible lacunae in
definitions, investigation powers and individual rights protection. |
Industry Finance
PSEB is working with stakeholders to
create a financing and funding ecosystem
for the IT industry.
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As a follow up to the recent
meeting on the establishment of a VC Fund, chaired by the Prime
Minister, and follow up meetings with bankers, investors and VC,
a structure and methodology have been proposed to the Ministry
of IT by PSEB for onward submission to the PM Secretariat for
approval. The methodology includes an international RFP and an
inter-agency selection committee. A meeting of visiting VC was
arranged with the Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, who assured
full support for the proposed VC Fund particularly the release
of foreign exchange for overseas investment.
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Company
Capability Development
PSEB sponsors quality and
information security certification
of IT companies in order to
enhance their international
competitiveness.
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Under PSEB-sponsored
programs, Pakistan now has over 110 ISO-certified IT companies, over
fifty ISO IT lead auditors, and will have over 20 CMMi rated
companies by the end of the current year – making it a world leader
in this category. Currently, there is one CMMi L5 company, one CMM
L5 company, three CMMi L3 companies, five CMMi L2 company, one ISO
27001 certified company, four SEI Transition Partner companies and
two SCAMPI appraisers.
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Abacus Consulting,
specializing in SAP implementation, data warehousing and mining, and
custom ERP suites, has achieved CMMi L2 under the PSEB program.
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LUMS, a leading university
and CMMi consulting and appraisal company on the PSEB panel, has
received status of SEI Transition Partner from US Department of
Defense, and thus has become eligible to conduct CMMi appraisals
across the globe outside USA.
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PSEB sponsored
the 3rd International Information Security Conference (INFOSEC
2007) that was addressed by top Information Security Experts from
Pakistan and abroad. |
Facilitation
PSEB facilitates IT companies
in their interaction with
various Government agencies
and also launches programs in
areas of strategic importance
where the private sector is
shy of investing. In the last
year, the Open Source Centre
has conducted twenty six
workshops, training over four
hundred and fifty people,
facilitated one migration, and
published internationally
recognizing training
toolkits..
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In the current calendar
year, visa processing has been facilitated for two hundred and eight
individuals. Foreign currency remittance NOCs for purchase of
software were processed and issued to fifty nine companies, and
corporate advisory services have been provided to numerous companies
and individuals.
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Nineteen new IT
companies were registered with PSEB in this reporting period in
addition to twelve call centres. Sixty one IT companies and seven
call centres have renewed their registrations.
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In the last year, the Open Source Centre has conducted forty one
workshops, training over eight hundred and ninety seven, facilitated
two migrations, and published internationally recognizing training
toolkits.
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Under PSEB’s OSRC (Open Source Resource Centre) Project, four
training workshops and one migration were conducted in COMSATS
Institute of Information Technology, Abbotabad.
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PSEB plans to collaborate with IPO Pakistan to promote Open Source
as a means of combating Intellectual Property piracy in the country.
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M/s Pearl
Solutions has been selected to develop an Open Source ERP for the
agriculture sector following an open bidding process.
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Tel: 051-9211124 |
Fax: 051 9204075 | Email:
info@pseb.org.pk | URL:
www.pseb.org.pk
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