Umair Azam, CEO of Integration Xperts, a prominent technology firm in Pakistan, believes that the country can easily double its IT exports within a year or two through the implementation of a well-coordinated strategy, supported by the private sector. Azam commended the caretaker administration for its dedicated efforts in fostering the growth of the IT sector, expressing confidence in the government’s direction and the positive steps taken by the IT ministry.

With recent memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Azam stressed the importance of vigilant follow-up. While acknowledging MoUs as favorable for the industry, he highlighted the crucial need to execute and monitor agreements with Saudi Arabia and other nations. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Azam emphasized collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to achieve IT export targets and capitalize on emerging regional opportunities.

Azam called for the government to organize a series of road shows in potential markets, in consultation and partnership with the private sector, to continually promote Pakistan and its IT sector for due recognition. Addressing the challenge of supplying a skilled workforce, Azam noted that despite producing approximately 25,000 IT graduates annually, only 10% of them secure employment in the industry due to a lack of necessary skills.

To address this gap, Azam urged the alignment of IT educational institutions’ curriculum with market demands. Integration Xperts is actively contributing to this cause through its Future Leader Programme (FLP), offering hands-on training in the latest technologies to selected graduates.

In a noteworthy development, Integration Xperts played a pivotal role in establishing Pakistan’s largest IT academy at the National Aerospace Science Technology Park. Teaming up with global technology enabler AshreiTech, they aim to train around 25,000 individuals annually, collaborating with technology giants such as Oracle, SAP, Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce.

Azam believes that this initiative positions Pakistan as a technology hub in the coming years, with the potential for IT graduates to contribute billions to the country’s economy. He emphasized the importance of the right training and resources, considering the high global demand for experts in emerging technologies.