On the 8th of June 2024, the Special Communications Organization (SCO) and the Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan (AKF, P) came together to inaugurate the new Software Technology Park in Nasirabad, Hunza. This initiative is aimed at promoting the sustainable development of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) by providing uninterrupted power supply, high-speed internet, and a co-working space for small and growing start-ups, freelancers, and chambers of commerce.
The state-of-the-art technology park will serve as a central resource, connecting various IT facilities in the more remote areas of the region, thus enhancing access to distance learning, entrepreneurship and career counselling, and digital skills development. Furthermore, it is expected to catalyse freelance business opportunities in the region.
The inauguration event was attended by esteemed individuals including the Director General of the Special Communications Organization, Major General Umar Ahmad Shah; the Director of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and Chairman of Habib Bank Limited, Mr Sultan Ali Allana; the President of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan, Mr Nizar Mewawalla; and the Chief Executive Officer of AKF, P, Mr Akhtar Iqbal.
Sultan Ali Allana, Chairman of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development and Habib Bank Limited, expressed his optimism regarding the impact of the Software Technology Park, stating that it will provide numerous networking and economic opportunities at both national and international levels. He emphasized that the new facility will foster innovation, create new business networks, and drive economic growth in the region.
Moreover, Major General Umar Ahmad Shah highlighted the SCO Vision 2025, which focuses on empowering youth through a sustained IT environment. He expressed the organization’s commitment to expanding IT and Free-Lancing Hubs (FLHs) across Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, harnessing the potential of youth, creating job opportunities, and bringing in foreign remittances. This transformed IT landscape is expected to contribute significantly to the overall development and prosperity of the region.
Underscoring the importance of the initiative, the CEO of AKF Pakistan noted, “Gilgit Baltistan has great potential to become a hub for software companies in Pakistan. With access to high-speed internet, 24-hour electricity supply, co-working spaces, and an attractive geographical location, it will attract national and international tech companies and digital nomads who can have a significant beneficial impact on the economy of the country.”
In conclusion, the establishment of the Nasirabad Software Technology Park represents a pivotal step towards fostering innovation, supporting youth empowerment, and driving economic growth in the region.
For more information about the Special Communications Organization (SCO), please contact Major Narjis Jamil, GSO II Marketing, at [email protected]. For inquiries about the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), please reach out to Laila Naz Taj, Director AKDN Pakistan Communications, at [email protected].