Senior Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Senator Anusha Rehman said that the government is taking practical measures to promote information technology and adoption of leading technologies is indispensable for achieving sustainable development.
Lahore, March 31, 2026 Senior Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Senator Anusha Rehman, said that the government is taking practical measures to promote information technology and adoption of leading technologies is indispensable for achieving sustainable development.
While chairing a meeting on IT sector development held here on Tuesday, she said that 5 million students across the province will be trained in emerging technologies. She added that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is working around the clock to ensure timely completion of IT projects.
The meeting was attended by IT Department Secretary Zahir Hassan, National Incubation Center Lahore (NICL) Chairman Ayub Ghauri, NICL Project Director Agha Abdul Rahman, NICL Principal Consultant Saad Tariq, and representatives of leading organizations in the IT industry, including JazzCash, Huawei and venture capital funds.
During the meeting, ongoing and proposed development projects related to leading technologies, incubation centers and digital skills development were reviewed. The participants also discussed practical measures and policy recommendations to strengthen the IT ecosystem in Punjab by enhancing collaboration between government, industry, academia and other stakeholders.
Addressing the meeting, Senator Anusha Rehman said the purpose of the session was to develop a coordinated IT policy for Punjab and set clear objectives in consultation with all stakeholders. She said that PC-1 has been prepared for various initiatives, which will be finalized after consultation with stakeholders and subsequently sent to the Federal Planning Department for approval.
She said that leading technologies have become indispensable in sectors such as health, agriculture, infrastructure and energy, and no country can achieve sustainable development without adopting modern technological solutions. She added that Punjab must keep pace with the requirements of the future by promoting digital economy, e-commerce, financial technology and digital services.
The senior advisor said that Pakistan’s ranking in the leading technologies index needs to be improved and the Punjab IT Department will focus on strengthening the province’s position in emerging technology areas.
She stressed the need for joint efforts by industry, academia and government to achieve these goals.
Anusha Rahman said the government is also taking practical steps to modernize and digitize the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, industrial and SME sectors. She stressed the need to strengthen cashless digital payment systems, noting that while consumers pay taxes indirectly during purchases, taxes are not fully collected due to cash transactions. She said awareness among consumers and engagement with chambers of commerce will be ensured to promote the cashless economy.
She said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has made IT promotion a top priority and that a Digital Economy Authority will soon be established in Punjab. She added that discussions are also underway to sign agreements with international universities for teacher training programmes.
Anusha Rehman said that the Nawaz Sharif IT City project was an important part of Punjab’s IT and digitalization policy, with local and foreign IT companies investing in it. She said that the Prime Minister personally supervises its timely completion. She added that Punjab is emerging as a hub for IT innovation and investment, creating new job opportunities for the youth and boosting the province’s economy.
Earlier, a discussion session was held on leading technologies and innovations, where participants deliberated on the role of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital transformation in economic growth, along with policy frameworks and the importance of cooperation between educational institutions, industry, and government. Stakeholders also considered recommendations to increase investment in R&D, promote growth of the IT sector, strengthen the startup ecosystem, and improve digital infrastructure in Punjab.