Muneeb ur Rehman

The Information Technology parks in Gilgit-Baltistan are providing income-generation opportunities to women. Talking to WealthPK, Kumail Abbas, Deputy Secretary at the Information Technology Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, said that women were first equipped with digital skills before they entered the job market. “Once armed with these skills, they either opt to work for companies providing IT services or choose freelancing from the comfort of their homes.” “The skills imparted to women include web development, mastering tools such as HTML, graphic designing, JavaScript, search engine optimisation (SEO), content writing, and social media management,” he explained. Kumail Abbas added that Gilgit-Baltistan held a strategic position as the central hub of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the establishment of cutting-edge IT parks under the Special Communication Organisation (SCO) were poised to address the shortage of well-trained human resources in the IT sector. While mentioning the challenges women faced before the establishment of IT parks in the region, he said: “In the absence of IT parks in Gilgit-Baltistan, young female software experts and engineers from the region were compelled to relocate to other cities in the country.

“This migration posed challenges for them in sustaining their professional careers and reaping the associated benefits.” While detailing about the IT park in the Chilidas area of Gilgit, he also lauded the unwavering efforts of the government of Gilgit-Baltistan in actively involving private IT firms in the project. “The software technology park situated in the Chilidas area of the city offers internet access, essential amenities, and shared working spaces to the female employees of more than 20 information technology companies.” Kumail Abbas underscored the fiscal initiatives of the government as well. He added that Rs1 billion had been sanctioned in the ongoing fiscal year for the establishment of information technology parks in every district of the region. He said that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed between the Information Technology Department of Gilgit-Baltistan and Karakoram Cooperative Bank for a Rs100 million e-employment project. “This initiative aims to foster business and employment opportunities within the IT sector.” Kumail Abbas said that IT parks would also be set up in Nasirabad, Hunza, Gahkoch, Ghizar and Skardu.

Credit: INP-WealthPk