By Hifsa Raja ISLAMABAD, April 25 (INP-WealthPK): Former adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on science and technology Ziaullah Khan Bangash said that Pakistan Digital City, Haripur, aims to create 100,000 jobs by the end of 2023. Talking to WealthPK, he said the digital city was inaugurated in 2022, aiming to create 50,000 jobs in the initial phase. “The digital city is a mega project of the government, where a fully digital environment is provided,” Ziaullah Bangash said, and compared the digital city of Haripur with the Silicon Valley in the United States. “Our aim is to transform it into a well-connected and technologically advanced valley just like the Silicon Valley,” he said, adding that the digital city was located at a suitable place where access to IT experts from other cities was easy both through road and air. “The digital city is nestled amid beautiful mountains of scenic Nathia Gali,” Bangash told WealthPK. He also mentioned some other projects that would help create jobs in future. “The establishment of an Information Technology Park in Abbottabad and Peshawar Digital Complex would also create numerous jobs,” he added. “Launch of Durshal (doorstep) projects and software houses in Waziristan, Malakand and other districts of the province will also create a number of jobs for youth.” The former aide to the chief minister said the government was empowering 3,000 women graduates of universities and colleges through imparting digital skills to them. “The government has also given relaxation in taxes to promote freelancing in Pakistan.” He said that to create opportunities for youth, the government has also started an online gaming competition. “We have launched online gaming tournament to create earning opportunities for tech-savvy youth,” he added, pointing out that such programmes would create more jobs for youth. Meanwhile, talking to WealthPK, Dr Ali Mehmood, Managing Director of Information Technology Board, said that the Pakistan Digital City in Haripur was designed on the pattern of the Dubai Internet City. “The hybrid model contains IT parks and small and medium-sized enterprises that will contribute to job creation.” He said that national incubation centres were also being set up in the digital city. Ali Mehmood said, “The digital city is strengthening the government’s efforts to digitise the country’s economy as it will house IT companies, small and medium-sized enterprises and software houses.” “The digital city will become an opportunity hub and start-up heaven,” commented the MD Information Technology Board.