IT Industry overview

The IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) marketplace offers lucrative opportunities for developing countries to join the  ranks of the developed world. The scale and pace of growth in this sector is faster than in any other industry, and a number of developing countries are attempting to emulate the success enjoyed by countries such as China, Thailand and India.

Future IT Tower KHI

The Government of Pakistan has been proactively developing the IT sector in Pakistan since the last few years. A few of the incentives offered include tax exemption till 2016, establishment of IT Parks with low rent, foreign ownership of equity invested in IT and 100% repatriation of profit allowed to IT companies.

State Bank Reporting Earnings	Estimated Total IT Industry Export Revenue	Estimated Total IT Industry Size
US$ 116m	US$ 1.4b	US$ 2.8b

 

Pakistan’s IT industry has been rising steadily since the last three years. A marked increase in software export figures are an indication of this booming industry’s potential.

STATISTICS OF THE PAKISTANI IT/ITES INDUSTRY (Link)

Total number of IT companies registered with PSEB	1306
Number of substantial IT companies region-wise breakup	445 Karachi 351 Islamabad/Rawalpindi 426 Lahore 84   Others
Total number of foreign IT and telecommunication companies working in Pakistan	60
Number of CMMI-assessed companies	One CMM Level 5 company, one CMMI Level 5 company, three CMMI Level 3 companies and sixteen CMMI Level 2 companies
Total industry size	US$ 2.8 billion (WTO-prescribed formula)
IT and IT-enabled services exports	US$ 1.4 billion (WTO-prescribed formula)
Percent growth in exports over the last one year	61%
Number of IT graduates produced per year	Approximately 20,000
Export targets for the current fiscal year 2007-2008	US$ 162 million
Number of universities offering IT/CS programs	110
Number of IT professionals engaged in export-oriented activities (software development/call centers etc.)	More than 15,000
Total number of IT professionals employed in Pakistan	110,000
Total IT spending in the fiscal year 2005-2006	US$ 1.4 billion
Total space utilized in IT & Software Technology Parks	Eleven IT Parks covering an area of 750,000 sq ft

 

PAKISTAN’S IT EXPORTS

The State Bank of Pakistan in its statement for the year 2006-07 reports the export figures of software and IT-enabled services to be US$116 million which shows a consistent annual growth. State Bank of Pakistan adopted BPM 5 Reporting system to report the IT exports revenue, which restricted the export figures to US$116 million only in 2006-07. In India, the Reserve Bank of India follows the BPM 6 (also called MSITS) Reporting System, which raises its exports to billions of US dollars. BPM 6 includes sales to multinationals, earning of overseas offices & salaries of non-immigrant overseas workers to export revenue. Using the MSITS Reporting System, Pakistan IT Industry exports are estimated at US$ 1.4billion while the industry size is estimated at US$ 2.8 billion. It is significant to note that Pakistan IT exports growth in each of the last few years has been more than 50%.

 

State Bank Reporting Earnings	Estimated Total IT Industry Export Revenue	Estimated Total IT Industry Size
US$ 116m	US$ 1.4b	US$ 2.8b

 

The World Trade Organization (WTO) lists Mode 3, revenue generated by commercial offices overseas, and Mode 4, compensation received by temporary workers who have traveled abroad, as export revenue streams which must be included in trade revenue calculation. There is also strong evidence to suggest that other countries, such as India, in fact employ global services export figures when reporting or estimating revenue.

The following table describes the four WTO modes for export-in-services recognition. The need for the four-mode model arises because trade in services is much harder to monitor than trade in physical goods. Physical goods pass through air, sea or land ports, and are accompanied by detailed financial and other documentation. Services trade, on the other hand, can be transacted over the Internet, through post, or through travel of personnel, with revenue flowing into company or personal accounts, which can exist anywhere in the world.

Following are some of the renowned IT associations of Pakistan:

 PAKISTAN SOFTWARE HOUSES ASSOCIATION (PASHA)

Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) was formed in the last quarter of 1992 by nine software houses. By 2003, PASHA had grown to over 200 members. Its main objective is to promote and develop the software and services industry in Pakistan and to protect the rights of its members.

The software and services industry is growing at an enormous pace in Pakistan and PASHA, along with its members, is playing an important role in making their presence felt, both nationally and internationally.

COMPUTER SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN (CSP)

The Computer Society of Pakistan (CSP) is the national organization of Information Technology professionals in the country. It was established in 1973 to promote the use of computers, increase general awareness among the public and to look after the professional interests of the IT personnel in the country.

The Society holds lectures, seminars and technology forums which provide an excellent platform for the interaction of professionals. It organizes annual computer exhibitions and software competitions all over the country with the objective of fostering a better future for IT in Pakistan.

The Computer Society of Pakistan sponsors students to take part in the international software competitions in various countries as well as organizes various programs for the youth. The current membership of the Society is over 2000 professionals working in over 350 public and private sector organizations.

ORGANIZATION OF PAKISTANI ENTREPRENEURS OF NORTH AMERICA (OPEN)

 The Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs (OPEN) is a voluntary not-for-profit association dedicated to providing leadership opportunities for our members and community. The organization was formed in 1998 by a group of Pakistani-American entrepreneurs and corporate executives and registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year 2000. The association’s charter is to provide networking opportunities and enhanced business opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals who work in high- tech, finance and biotech fields in North America. OPEN meetings and events are open to the public. OPEN has chapters in New England, Silicon Valley, New York, and Washington DC.

OPEN Chapters have boards comprising the most successful Pakistanis in the areas of finance, technology, telecommunications, biotech and consulting in North America. OPEN regularly organizes events pertaining to current issues in business and entrepreneurship. In addition to OPEN’S highly successful Board of Directors, OPEN is comprised of executive committees of seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals from a multitude of industries and professions that help plan, coordinate, and execute OPEN’s mission.

THE INDUS ENTREPRENEURS (TiE)

A global not-for-profit network of entrepreneurs and professionals dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship. TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education. TiE, The Indus Entrepreneurs, also known as Talent Ideas and Enterprise is a global, non-profit network dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship.

Founded in 1992, in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region, the organization today has over 10,000 members across 44 chapters in 9 countries.

Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE’s focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs. In order to achieve this, the organization has built programs to energize and inspire its constituencies. Prime example of this is their flagship event TiEcon, the largest conference for entrepreneurs worldwide.

The one constant guiding the evolution of TiE has been its philosophical framework. It has kept the vision and decisions of TiE’s leadership true to its basic beliefs that wealth creation and giving back to society are invaluable human endeavors, and that an open, inclusive and forward-looking organization is the right vehicle in which to reach their objectives.

 

ASSOCIATION OF CALL CENTER OPERATORS (ACCO)

ACCO is an organization rich in information and experience with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom in its members. The key to continuing success is the sharing attitude among its members. The industry in Pakistan is now in a growing phase and many organizations require advicethe investment in their contact centre in terms of enhanced customer service. ACCO is in a unique position to assist today’s contact center market place in their quest for improved delivery.

ACCO provides valued services, at both individual and organization level, encouraging the promotion of best practices and professional standards.

ACCO is established as a pivot for building new memberships with other professional bodies, government departments, overseas organizations and other agencies who have an interest in the successful development of contact centers, organizing the said conference is evidence to this commitment.

 

PAKISTAN COMPUTER ASSOCIATION (PCA)

Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) was established in December 2000 as an autonomous, non political, non partisan, non-profitable and service oriented organization. The Computer Association has been formed with the involvement of professionals, specialists, manufacturers, institutions and the related organization of Computer and Information Technology within the country.