Amer Hashmi, the chairman of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), has submitted his resignation to Pakistan’s prime minister. The President of the STZA Board of Governors is Hashmi.
He was chosen to serve as the first Chairman of STZA, a recently created Authority under the Cabinet Division, in February 2021.
The STZA’s mandate is to build Special Technology Zones (STZs), which are strategically positioned under the “Triple Helix Model” of innovation, and to manage and support the technology and knowledge ecosystem throughout Pakistan.
These STZs aim to promote collaboration between the government, domestic and foreign business, academia, and research and development facilities in order to open up new opportunities, facilitate doing business, and offer the Pakistani technology sector strong regulatory support.
The STZA Act was unanimously approved by both houses of parliament in October 2021. Since then, the STZA has given notice to four Special Technology Zones in Lahore, Islamabad, and. The Special Technology Zones have issued licenses to more than 20 domestic and foreign businesses. Over 300 possible enterprise potential applications are in the pipeline, 50 of which are being reviewed and evaluated for a license.
The STZA Chairman has carried out targeted activities to promote Pakistan as a developing location for the region’s technology sector during his tenure.
“I am optimistic that under the right leadership at the helm, STZA and its high-caliber and talented team of professionals will capitalize in multiples on the enviable foundation being laid down to create a progressive technology ecosystem in the country,” Hashmi said in his closing remarks. I consider it a blessing that the Almighty Allah gave me the freedom to establish the necessary ecosystem for our gifted youth to realize their full potential and for Pakistan’s proud citizens to profit incalculably from the power of technology.
