Pakistan to seek India's help for software development

CHANDIGARH: Counting on Indian''s success story in information technology (IT) and taking advantage of a thaw in bilateral relations, Pakistan will approach India for help in developing its software sector.
Admitting India''s superiority in software and IT enabled services, Mian Anjum Nisar, the president of the Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said a delegation of Pakistani software companies are likely to visit India in March and an Indian delegation will tour Pakistan later in the year to pursue possible cooperation.
India''s National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) and their counterpart, Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), wants to emulate India''s success in obtaining outsourcing contracts from the West and learn skills to manage the software business, said an Nasscom official. The team is likely to visit IT hubs of Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai.
India is the world''s leader in back office and software outsourcing business and is expected to earn $13 billion by March 2004 while Pakistan''s software companies earn $50 million annually.
"The purpose of such visit and association is not only to explore and cultivate IT trade opportunities, but also share Indian IT companies'' success and experience in providing high quality services and process management skills,'' said Vineet Virmani, former chairman of PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Junaid Iqbal Sheikh, a Lahore-based industrialist said that India is way ahead of us in IT but even in Pakistan the fever has caught up and so are looking for Indian support to set up IT training centres and developed centres. He also regretted that the country was being deprived of many companies that were willing to invest in this sector due to the unfriendly investment atmosphere.
In fact, several IT companies like Wipro, Aptech, NIIT have opened shops in several places including SAARC countries.
Aptech''s had chalked out a plan to capture about 20 percent of the global market in computer education, which is currently estimated to cross $1 billion by 2005. It has about 24 centres including SAARC countries.
As part of its expansion, Aptech plans to enter those markets where it does not have a presence and will focus on countries like China, Middle East, Africa, Singapore, Canada and SAARC (south Asian) nations. The Bangalore-based software giants Wipro Technologies has set up centres in China and its call centre unit Spectramind in Bangladesh.
Similarly, several IT majors like Pentasoft Technologies, Infosys and Satyam, who already have a global presence will look for skilled manpower available closer home, said the Nasscom official.
Recently, Microsoft International has recently provided assistance to National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) of Pakistan for setting up 16 information technology centres in the various Pakistan districts.