Promotion of IT hardware production in Punjab discussed

LAHORE: A consultative session focusing on IT hardware production in Punjab province was held at AKS Auditorium, Planning and Development Board, Punjab on Monday.

The session brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and industry to discuss strategies for enhancing the IT hardware manufacturing landscape in the province. The session aimed to identify challenges and opportunities in the IT hardware sector, promote local manufacturing, and foster innovation.

The participants engaged in productive discussions on policy recommendations, technological advancements, and potential partnerships to strengthen the IT hardware ecosystem. The local manufacturers of IT hardware shared insights on the latest trends in IT hardware, emphasising the importance of research and development.

They expressed their commitment to support Punjab government in promoting local hardware manufacturing. However, they stressed that there should be strict restriction on the import of IT gadgets through unofficial channels and advocate for some tax relaxations.

Furthermore, they called for the acceptance of locally manufactured items, at least at the government level. Planning and Development Board Chairman Barrister Nabeel Ahmad Awan emphasised the Punjab government’s commitment to promote local production and reducing reliance on imports. He said the vision of CM Punjab is to create a conducive environment for IT hardware manufacturing in Punjab.

He expressed his gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions and look forward to further engagements to drive the growth of the IT hardware industry in Punjab. The session concluded with a consensus on the need for continuous dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve the province’s objectives in IT hardware production.

Secretary P&D Board Dr Asif Tufail, Chairman PITB Faisal Yousaf, DG e-Governance Sajid Latif, IT Chief Waqas Ranjha, Chief Governance M Naseer, CEO OZI Group Usman Sheikh, COO Viper Faisal, CEO Viper M Khushnood, CEO Airlink Adnan Aftab, CEO Roboart Ali Rashid, CEO RADA Abdullah Afzal, CEO Dysol Abdul Basit and other distinguished experts attended the session.