IT Park remains dream in Kashmir

Rameez Makhdoomi
Srinagar, Dec 12: Information Technology as a sector has taken center-stage in the development of global economies and played a vital part in development of Indian economy too. In India, one of the most technologically advanced countries in the globe; the IT sector plays a pivotal role in economy and as a matter of fact employs more than 2.5 million people and accounts for over five percent of the country’s gross domestic product and export earnings. India’s outsourcing industry is expected to hit 225 billion dollars by in 2020.
Even the lofty promises of Jammu & Kashmir Government and the concerned IT Ministry to set up mega IT Parks in the valley have remained just promises as the result IT sector of Jammu & Kashmir has continued to lag behind.
Pertinently, the valley of Kashmir is yet to see a developed Information Technology sector as the valley of Kashmir currently lacks quality IT Parks and a large number of IT Professionals are jobless in the valley of Kashmir. IT Parks have been promised but no pragmatic effort made to build the same.
Experts state that there are a wide variety of career opportunities available for capable and experienced IT professionals.
Javeed Amin ,an Information Technology professional said, “ IT Sector of Kashmir has not developed. We lack quality IT Parks in Kashmir .The majority of IT Professionals in the valley of Kashmir are facing a wide range of problems on account of lack of job avenues in this all important sector in the entire state especially Kashmir valley. While in other parts of the world IT sector is booming here it is lagging. Government should take all the required steps to improve this sector so as an era of prosperity can be ushered in our part of the world.”
Kashmir News Bureau