Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday inaugurated the National Technology Park in Islamabad, formally naming the state-of-the-art facility the Daanish Technology Park and describing it as a major milestone in Pakistan’s journey towards technology-driven economic growth and youth empowerment.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said the Daanish Technology Park was designed not merely as a physical infrastructure project but as a technology ecosystem bringing together incubation centres, innovation hubs, startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, industrialists, IT and artificial intelligence experts, academics and students.
He said the facility would provide young Pakistanis with opportunities to develop skills in IT, AI and other emerging technologies, enabling them to compete in international markets and contribute to the country’s economic development. The prime minister particularly highlighted the potential of technology to create opportunities for millions of young people, including women.
Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the success of the Daanish Technology Park would depend on the ecosystem created inside the facility rather than simply on its modern building. The park is expected to support entrepreneurship, vocational training, innovation and collaboration between technology experts, businesses and young people.
The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to select an experienced company through a transparent bidding process to operate the facility. He said national and international IT and AI companies would be invited to participate, with the park ultimately managed by professionals and experts rather than directly by the government.
The facility includes offices, an incubation centre, business support facilities, research and development laboratories, a Level III data centre, an auditorium and parking facilities. Officials have said the project is aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s IT sector, creating employment opportunities, improving global competitiveness and helping bridge the digital divide.
The prime minister also announced plans to replicate the model by establishing modern technology parks in Pakistan’s provinces as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said IT and AI could play a transformative role not only in the technology sector but also in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, industry and government services.
The Daanish name reflects the government’s education-focused Daanish initiative, which provides educational opportunities to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Shehbaz Sharif said the Islamabad facility would carry the same broader vision of expanding opportunities for talented young Pakistanis.
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The project had faced considerable delays after its foundation stone was laid in 2017-18. The prime minister said the focus now should remain on making the facility operational and ensuring that young people benefit from it rather than engaging in political point-scoring.
The inauguration marks a significant step in Pakistan’s efforts to build an innovation-driven digital economy, with the Daanish Technology Park expected to serve as a hub connecting technology, education, entrepreneurship and industry.
