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In the backdrop of ITCN Asia 2007 , the IT, telecom and media show in Karachi, BBC has done a piece on Pakistan IT industry. The title is Pakistan raring to go in IT sector.

It features Faruq Ahmad, a venture capitalist based in Silicon Valley in the US. Mr Ahmad is among a dozen international information technology experts who recently visited the ITCN Asia 2007.

Ashraf Kapadia, president of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (Pasha) is also quoted. Mr Kapadia says that Pakistan’s key strength lies in its cheaper costs and a strong desire to prove itself. Comparing Pakistan to India he adds, “I run a subsidiary of my company, Systems Limited, in the Indian city of Bangalore and it costs me almost 30% more to run it.

“Also, because we are desperate for work, we pick up jobs that Indian and Chinese companies find either too complex or not profitable enough and work hard to deliver these well.”

Innov8 which has been covered in this blog is also featured in this story as an example of innovative startup. Its Java-based mobile payment system is being rolled out soon on Mobilink - Pakistan’s biggest mobile operator with nearly 27 million customers.

Shortage of skilled resources is pointed out as a major challenge - and rightly so. And the IT minister tries to fix the media’s perceptions too. But I am not sure if these statements alone will be helpful, it will take a lot more to fix that.

Source: BBC