KARACHI- Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has announced an ITTower for Karachi, in a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Karachi ExpoCenter on 31st May. Secretary of Commerce, Mohammad Younus Dagha laid thefoundation stone for the TDAP IT Tower. As high as 21 floors, the IT Towerwill be located centrally in the city at the Karachi Expo Center and is akey feature of the current expansion plan of Karachi Expo Center, for whichthe development work has been initiated.
Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) has allocated funds worth PKR 8billion for the project designed by National Engineering Services Pakistan(NESPAK). The critical project will span four years, resulting in acomplete revamp of Karachi Expo Center. Under the new expansion plan, thecurrent six halls of the center will be demolished to be replaced by ninestate-of-the-art halls and a convention center. A parking plaza will alsobe developed, providing space to approximately 5000 vehicles. Uponcompletion of the project, TDAP offices will also be moved to the center.
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*TechJuice *reached out to Director Expo Center at TDAP ShafqatullahSiddiqui. Sharing the critical plans, he said,
*“We have been working on this project for a long time. Karachi is the notonly the hub of business but it is an international city. In recent times,we are experiencing investment coming in and CPEC projects are also beingkicked off. Therefore, it had become a dire need for Karachi to have amega-tower for major business activities.”*
Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and TDAP have also signed aMemorandum of Understanding to include local IT industry as a part of theplanning process of the IT Tower. Speaking to *TechJuice*, SecretaryGeneral P@SHA Shehryar Hydrilink>explainedthe need for the collaboration,
*“The IT Tower is being built to house technology companies. Therefore, itwas essential that the industry becomes a part of the project as a keystakeholder. With this collaboration, P@SHA will be a part of the steeringcommittee to help TDAP figure out the needs of local IT industry and designthe space accordingly.”*
Sharing his views on the further expansion plans of the Karachi ExpoCenter, he added,
*“It will be a critical infrastructure project in Karachi, especially interms of its location. The upgrade of the entire exhibit center willprovide a modern space for local technology companies to conduct qualityevents and conferences.”*
The TDAP IT Tower will not only provide space to technology companies butalso open avenues for collaboration and business partnerships. With itsideal location and infrastructure, the Tower can prove to be a monumentalproject for the technology ecosystem of Karachi.