National Exhibition of Locally Manufactured PC Hardware and Telecommunication Equipment, Islamabad - Pakistan

A National Exhibition of locally manufactured PC Hardware and Telecommunication equipment in Pakistan was jointly organized by Technology Resources Mobilization Unit (TReMU) & COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) on 4th April 2002, Islamabad. Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Minister for Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, inaugurated the exhibition. The exhibition turned out to be a great success in marketing the digital equipments. It has not only provided an assessment of the current capacity of the sector but has also effectively removed bottlenecks, addressed difficulties and issues relating to development.

The development of IT sector in Pakistan requires capacity building initiatives in the major areas of hardware designing & manufacturing, software engineering, training & education, and infrastructure development for internetworking. Breakthroughs in these areas are all inter-dependent. The progress in one requires support from the other sectors. Whereas the ISP, software development, and education sectors are gaining momentum in Pakistan, the local hardware manufacturing industry is still in its infancy. It needs encouragement from both the government and private sector to realize its potential. Looking at the growing demand of computers and telecommunication equipment in the country, the local hardware industry becomes vital in supporting the developmental goals of IT in the long run. Pakistan is not short of capable manpower in hardware engineering, there is a dire need to organize and develop this potential to match in the fields of software, education and internet. A vibrant national hardware industry will reduce our dependence on imported machinery and would save valuable foreign exchange. It will also contribute to the economy and overall prosperity of the country by generating employment opportunities and attracting investment.

The development of national hardware industry however will need to drive support from research and policy making bodies to sustain and flourish. Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan has been playing its due role in this context and deserves full appreciation for providing much needed attention and support to the sector.