Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has inaugurated a state-of-the-art information technology facility, renamed Daanish IT Park, with the aim of promoting innovation, developing digital skills and accelerating technology-driven economic growth in Pakistan.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said the facility would bring incubation centres, innovation hubs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups and industry leaders together under one roof to create a supportive ecosystem for technological advancement.
He expressed confidence that the project would empower Pakistan’s youth and contribute to the country’s transformation into a developed nation.
Shehbaz said that once the IT park became fully operational, similar facilities would be established across the country and in all provinces. These centres would help promote growth in key sectors, including industry, agriculture, mining and minerals.
Highlighting the role of emerging technologies, the prime minister said the facility would host artificial intelligence (AI) experts and serve as a platform for developing professional skills in the IT sector.
He noted that the project was initiated during 2017-18 but had subsequently faced difficulties. He commended the IT minister, her team and relevant authorities for reviving the stalled initiative and bringing it to its current stage.
The prime minister said he had directed the ministry to ensure transparent bidding, inviting leading domestic and international IT companies to make the facility fully operational. He added that its management should follow internationally recognised standard operating procedures (SOPs) without government interference.
Shehbaz announced that the Islamabad IT Park would be renamed Daanish IT Park, in recognition of the Daanish Schools initiative, which provides quality education to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said students from these institutions had demonstrated their abilities and excelled in various fields. The prime minister also noted that a Daanish University was being established in Islamabad.
Emphasising the broader purpose of the facility, he said the project was not merely about constructing an impressive building but about developing an ecosystem centred on innovation, incubation, skills training and entrepreneurship.
He explained that the IT park would bring industrialists, entrepreneurs, IT specialists and AI experts together, creating opportunities for people seeking to acquire new skills and pursue technological ventures.
According to the prime minister, the facility would act as a catalyst for promoting technical expertise and supporting individuals interested in learning and innovation.
The prime minister appreciated the cooperation extended by the South Korean government and its ambassador in supporting the project.
Recalling his first visit to South Korea in 1985, Shehbaz said he had visited Daewoo’s headquarters and a steel plant, besides holding meetings with representatives of other companies.
He also recalled that during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, air-conditioned Daewoo buses were introduced in Lahore for the first time.
The South Korean ambassador said his country was committed to ensuring that no individual or nation was left behind in the age of artificial intelligence.
He described AI as a powerful tool for addressing shared global challenges, including crises, public health concerns and food security.
The ambassador added that South Korea, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and relevant science and IT institutions, was working to expand development cooperation with Pakistan in the information technology sector.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja also addressed the ceremony.
The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, members of the federal cabinet, parliamentarians, chief executives, technology experts and students.
