By Adnan Hameed TWA ______ Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal held a meeting with Ambassador of South Korea to Pakistan Park Ki Jun, which focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly Exim Bank’s role and the IT Parks’ ongoing development in Islamabad and Karachi. Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja was also present during the meeting, a news release said on Thursday. During the discussion, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of the Technology Park in Islamabad, which is currently providing office space for over 130 startups and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). He reiterated that Pakistan was committed to ensuring the completion of the Islamabad IT Park by February 2025, with work expected to be in full execution mode, as per the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The minister further shared that the Karachi IT Park was scheduled for inauguration in October 2024. “This significant project will play a crucial role in strengthening Pakistan’s IT sector and digital economy.” Ahsan Iqbal conveyed Pakistan’s strong commitment to enhancing ties with the Republic of Korea, particularly in the field of information technology and telecommunications. He noted that both countries could greatly benefit from sharing expertise and experiences in these sectors. Ambassador Park Ki Jun, in response, affirmed Korea’s desire to further deepen its partnership with Pakistan in the IT and telecommunications sectors. He reiterated Korea’s commitment to assisting Pakistan in its IT development initiatives and ensuring the timely completion of the Islamabad IT Park project.The Islamabad IT Park, once fully operational, is expected to deliver significant economic benefits, including an increase in IT exports, says press note. The facility will provide a comprehensive IT ecosystem for local businesses, including incubation centers, state-of-the-art ICT services, and a Tier III-level Data Center.It is projected to generate more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs during and after its completion. International tech giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft have already expressed interest in establishing their offices at the Islamabad IT Park, which signals Pakistan’s growing prominence as an emerging hub for IT development.