STZA, NRTC seal Rs12.5 billion deal to boost high-tech production in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) and the National Radio & Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) have formally signed a Rs12.5 billion Zone Development Agreement, marking a transformative addition to Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones landscape with a specific focus on high-tech production.

NRTC, designated as a special technology zone, proudly features a purpose-built facility for high-tech production of information and communication technologies, biomedical technologies, agritech, robotics, power, and artificial intelligence-enabled internet of things (IOT) solutions.

NRTC also produces high-end technology products for the defense sector.

The progress of this pivotal project has been significantly accelerated through the strategic support of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which has identified STZA as a central pillar in its economic strategy.

Spanning across 46.88 acres of land, NRTC’s operational facility in Haripur boasts high-quality tech infrastructure. This zone is expected to catalyze a significant expansion of high-tech capabilities, thereby enhancing both the technological landscape and economic vitality of the region.

Following this agreement, STZA has officially verified and licensed NRTC’s facility to lead the development of a cutting-edge technology ecosystem, positioning it as a pivotal platform for indigenous innovation, export growth, import substitution, and job creation.

The official signing ceremony, held at the STZA Headquarters in Islamabad, brought together the leadership teams of STZA, SIFC, and NRTC, establishing a foundational alliance poised to drive innovation and accelerate growth within the burgeoning national technology industry.

The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), led by the Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan as President of the Board of Governors, serves as the federal regulator for Special Technology Zones (STZs) throughout the country.

STZA’s core mandate is to license Special Technology Zones and technology companies in alignment with the Triple Helix Model of Innovation, providing a framework that intertwines academia, industry, and government to propel the knowledge and technology sectors forward.

In its commitment to cultivate a thriving technology ecosystem, STZA extends comprehensive fiscal and monetary incentives for 10 years to both public and private enterprises, encouraging significant financial, technical, and intellectual capital influx for knowledge ecosystem development in Pakistan.

The licensed zones are designated for the exclusive use by technology firms, which, in turn, benefit from a decade of fiscal and monetary advantages.

Additionally, STZA simplifies the business process by offering a One-Window facility for all regulatory approvals, thereby enhancing the ease of doing business and ensuring a cost-competitive environment for innovators and entrepreneurs in the technology domain to compete globally.

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