Pakistan attracting investors in IT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is poised to become more attractive place for investment in telecom and IT sectors, as country would have over 30 million additional fixed and mobile telephones by end of year 2009-10.

Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, minister for information technology while speaking at 2-day conference on Pakistan’s Infrastructure Projects 2005 on Tuesday said Pakistan is now the second fastest growing telecom market in Asia after China.

He said combined teledensity in last two years has doubled from 4.5 percent to over 11 percent of population while mobile sector, the minister added, has shown growth of over 100 percent.

He said fixed and mobile sectors attracted foreign and local investment of over $ 4 billion in terms of licenses and initial infrastructure.

He said next five years were likely to receive additional investment of over $ 3-4 billion.

Mr Leghari said total number of the subscribers of fixed and mobile had increased from 8 million to over 19 million during last two years and added the telecom and IT sectors were attracting recognition of the print, electronic media and advertising world.

The government would ensure delivery on all its commitments like continuity in policies, transparency of process, continued facilitation and consultative approach, he assured. About Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) he said the whole privatization process was carried out in a very transparent manner. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...14-9-2005_pg5_9

Tele-density 30pc up by 2010, says IT minister

By Zahid Hameed

ISLAMABAD: The government expects tele-density in Pakistan to go up to about 30 percent by the year 2009-10, an addition of over 30 million fixed and mobile telephones in the country, IT and Telecommunications Minister Awais Leghari has said.

Leghari, speaking at the two-day Pakistan Infrastructure Projects Conference 2005, organised by IBC Asia and the Board of Investment (BoI), expected more investment in Pakistan’s telecom sector as the government was upgrading infrastructure. He said tele-density had more than doubled from 4.5 percent to over 11 percent in the last two years. “The mobile sector has grown over 100 percent in the last two years while the total number of subscribers of fixed and mobile phones has increased from 8 million two years ago to over 19 million now.

Privatisation Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh urged public-private partnership in infrastructure projects for accelerated and sustainable economic growth. He said the estimated annual requirements for capital investment in infrastructure would be about $5 billion and the private sector should share the burden with the government.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...4-9-2005_pg7_34