ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to draw up a roadmap to gradually raise Pakistan’s information technology (IT) exports to $30 billion, urging concrete annual targets and reforms to accelerate digital growth.

IT is a priority sector for Pakistan, which has been seeking new markets, particularly in the Gulf region, for tech firms and startups, and looking to attract greater foreign investment.

The sector generated $3.8 billion in export revenue during the last fiscal year, marking a 19 percent year-on-year increase, according to the IT ministry.

“A complete digital ecosystem and infrastructure is being introduced to take Pakistan’s IT exports to $30 billion,” the prime minister said at a meeting in Islamabad, according to a statement from his office. “We are taking priority measures to align the economy with modern requirements through digitization.”

Sharif praised the growth in freelancing, women’s participation and professional training under federal IT programs, noting the establishment of e-employment centers, digital youth hubs and expanded 4G access across the country.

He also ordered the restructuring of the National Information Technology Board (NITB), including the recruitment of top-tier professionals from the market, and called for timely completion of all IT initiatives.

During the meeting, officials said that over 315,000 students had received IT training in the past year, including 115,000 women, while 386 startups were supported under the National Incubation Center, and nearly $700 million in investment agreements and MoUs were signed.

Pakistan also saw a 91 percent increase in the number of freelancers.

KARACHI: Security forces and police in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province arrested 14 suspected militant facilitators and destroyed three hideouts during a joint search and targeted operation in the Hovid and Wazirabad areas of Bannu district, a senior official said on Friday.

The operation, launched by the counterterrorism department of Bannu police and the security forces, was based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of facilitators linked to a banned militant group.

The crackdown follows a spike in violence in the region, which borders North Waziristan and has seen repeated attacks on security personnel in recent months.

“Bannu police, in a successful joint operation in the Hovid and Wazirabad areas, arrested 14 facilitators linked to a banned militant outfit and destroyed three terrorist hideouts,” Saleem Abbas, District Police Officer Bannu, told Arab News over the phone.

Abbas did not specify the name of the militant group, though the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have primarily generated violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since their founding in the early 2000s.

Police said security personnel also seized a vehicle and two motorcycles during the operation.

A curfew was imposed in parts of the area, and cordon-and-search activities were carried out to prevent suspects from fleeing.

Authorities said door-to-door searches were conducted, and any suspicious activity was being dealt with immediately.

Police also informed in a statement that joint patrolling in Hovid Bazaar and nearby areas would continue to ensure security and reassure local residents. The operation was carried out on the instructions of the regional and district police leadership.

Police warned that aiding or sheltering militants would result in strict legal action and urged the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies.

Bannu has witnessed a surge in militant activity in recent months, including quadcopter attacks on security personnel and civilians.

Authorities said operations would continue until the complete elimination of militant violence and lasting peace in the region.

“The latest operation is part of our continued crackdown on terrorists,” Deputy Inspector General of Police in Bannu Sajjad Khan told Arab News. “There have also been attacks on various police stations in recent weeks, which tend to escalate in response to our actions. But our forces are actively pursuing the militants.”