ISLAMABAD

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has decided to conduct an independent third-party review of the long-delayed Karachi IT Park project following repeated failures in the bidding process, in a move aimed at reassessing the project’s design, costs and implementation strategy.

The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) seeking consultancy firms to undertake a comprehensive audit of the project’s planning and technical documentation before the next phase of procurement begins.

Under the review, independent consultants will examine the project’s feasibility studies, engineering designs, cost estimates and other key technical documents to identify potential issues that may have contributed to multiple unsuccessful tendering attempts.

The Karachi IT Park project, estimated to cost more than Rs31 billion, has witnessed limited progress despite being one of Pakistan’s flagship technology infrastructure initiatives.

Officials said the government has initiated a reassessment of project conditions and procurement strategies after several rounds of bidding failed to attract suitable contractors.

A fresh bidding process is expected to be launched once the third-party evaluation is completed and recommendations are incorporated into the project framework.

Sources said the project also underwent significant design revisions after objections raised by the Civil Aviation Authority regarding building height restrictions and other technical considerations.

The Karachi IT Park has faced nearly three years of delays, raising concerns among industry stakeholders about the pace of development of critical technology infrastructure.

For the upcoming fiscal year, the Ministry of IT has sought Rs11.5 billion in funding to support the project’s implementation and accelerate pending work.

Officials said preliminary activities, including land investigations and the construction of a boundary wall, have already been completed.

Once operational, the Karachi IT Park is expected to provide state-of-the-art facilities to more than 200 technology companies, creating a dedicated ecosystem for innovation, software development and digital entrepreneurship.

The project is widely viewed as a key component of Pakistan’s strategy to boost IT exports, attract technology investment and strengthen the country’s digital economy.