Islamabad, September 10, 2026: meeting of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat was held this afternoon in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Committee Chairman Malik Abrar Ahmad. The committee was briefed about the  performance of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) and, the establishment of technology zones, and the promotion of investment in IT and technological sector. 

 

The Chairman STZA briefed the Committee in detail on the Authority’s performance, administrative structure, the current status of technology zones, and its future plans. He informed that the Authority had been mandated through Act of Parliament to build a globally competitive knowledge, innovation, and technology ecosystem in Pakistan. He further informed that STZA functions as the architect, facilitator, and regulator for public, private, and public-private technology zones across the country. Elaborating the functions of STZA he said that the Authority had the exclusive mandate to declare and notify Special Technology Zones (STZs), and issue licenses to zone developers, co-zone developers, and zone enterprises. He further informed that under the regulatory functions of the Authority develops independent rules, regulations, and institutional frameworks for the operation of these zones.

 

Apprising about the strategic objectives of the Authority, the Chairman said that increasing high-tech exports and promoting import substitution, attracting direct foreign investment and local capital in dom stic estic Tech sector , job creation and encouraging research and development was the core objectives. The Committee was also apprised about the progress on Islamabad Technopolis being made established by STZA in Islamabad on 140 acres of land, an integrated project comprising an industrial zone, IT park, and commercial and residential facilities.

 

The Committee appreciated the performance of STZA and termed it harbinger of change in IT and technological sector. The Committee was of the view that there was immense potential IT sector and an enabling environment for the sector could lead the country to prosperity. 

 

The Committee was later apprised about the progress on Actuarial Study of federal employees Benevolent and Group Insurance funds. The Committee was informed that the Actuarial study had suggested that the financial incentives to federal employees through different schemes under the funds could be enhanced keeping in view the positive financial projections. The Committee decided to discuss the issue in depth in its next meeting. 

 

The meeting was attended by MNA Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb, Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq, Ms. Shahida Akthar Ali, Dr. Nelson Azeem; Mr. Irfan Leghari, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Ms. Rana Ansar, Secretary Cabinet Division, Additional Secretary Establishment Division, Chairman STZA and other officers of the concerned departments.