ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 11th Sep, 2026) The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Thursday praised the performance of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), calling it a harbinger of change in Pakistan’s IT and technology sectors, during a meeting chaired by Committee Chairman Malik Abrar Ahmad in Islamabad.
During the meeting,the members were briefed on the authority’s performance, development of technology zones, investment promotion and future plans for strengthening the country’s technology ecosystem.
The committee was given a detailed briefing on STZA’s administrative structure, mandate, progress in establishing technology zones and future plans.
Chairman STZA told the committee that the authority had been established through an Act of Parliament with the mandate to develop a globally competitive ecosystem for knowledge, innovation and technology in Pakistan.
He said STZA functioned as the architect, facilitator and regulator of public, private and public-private technology zones across the country.
The chairman said the authority had the exclusive mandate to declare and notify Special Technology Zones (STZs) and issue licences to zone developers, co-zone developers and zone enterprises.
He added that STZA was also responsible for developing independent rules, regulations and institutional frameworks for the operation of technology zones.
Briefing the committee on the authority’s strategic objectives, the chairman said increasing high-tech exports, promoting import substitution, attracting foreign direct investment and domestic capital into the technology sector, creating employment opportunities and encouraging research and development are among STZA’s core priorities.
The committee was also apprised of progress on Islamabad Technopolis, being established by STZA on 140 acres of land in the federal capital.
The integrated project comprises an industrial zone, IT park and commercial and residential facilities and is aimed at providing an enabling environment for technology companies, investment and innovation.
The committee appreciated STZA’s performance and termed the authority a harbinger of change in the IT and technology sector.
Members observed that Pakistan had immense potential in the IT sector and said an enabling environment for technology businesses could help accelerate economic growth and take the country towards greater prosperity.
The committee was later briefed on the progress of the Actuarial Study of the Federal Employees Benevolent and Group Insurance Funds.
The committee was informed that the actuarial study had suggested that financial incentives available to federal employees under different schemes could be enhanced in view of positive financial projections.
The committee decided to discuss the matter in detail at its next meeting.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Tahira Aurangzeb, Nuzhat Sadiq, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Dr Nelson Azeem, Irfan Leghari, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani and Rana Ansar, as well as the Secretary Cabinet Division, Additional Secretary Establishment Division, Chairman STZA and other officers of the concerned departments.
