[Pakistan] 8,527 persons employed in 278 software houses during 2000-01

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 15:07:27 +0500 (PKT)
From: "Hasan A. Rizvi" <rizvi@isb.sdnpk.org>
To: comp-list@isb.sdnpk.org


8,527 persons employed in 278 software houses during 2000-01 

ISLAMABAD, May 26 (APP): Pakistan's software industry has showed a 
promising trend as 8,527 persons were employed in 278 software houses 
during 2000-01. Out of this, 94 percent were male and 6 percent were 
female, said a report compiled by the Federal Bureau of Statistics 
(FBS). 

The report was based on the finding of a recently held census of the 
Software Houses (SWHs) and related services in the country.Out of the 
total workforce, 90 percent (7671)were employed on full time basis 
and remaining 10 percent on part time basis, it added. 

The majority of the work force consists of programmers 29 percent 
(2438) whereas about 13 percent were employed either as executives or 
project managers. 

The report noted 85 PhDs, 44 M.Phil employed in the local software 
industry, while 30 percent of the IT work force were Masters degree 
holders and 42 percent were graduates. 

The report revealed that 1,137 projects for local market and 548 
projects for foreign companies were developed during 2000-2001. It 
said during the July-September period of last calendar year, 503 
local and 264 overseas software projects were developed by 226 
software houses. This has been made possible due to the incentive and 
facilities provided by the government to the local software industry.

It said the industry has also registered a positive growth and the 
number of registered software house has risen to 664 during 2001-2002 
as compared to 54 software houses during 1995-96. The report further 
said due to the facilitating measures of the government 72 new 
software houses were established during the last calendar year. 

The report noted that 66 software houses have overseas branches and 
36 of these were established during the 2001, as compared to 3 
overseas branches during 1995-96. However, it further noted that out 
of total 664 registered software houses only 323 were operational and 
rest 221 were either not functioning or had changed their premises. 

The questionnaire of the census was responded by 86.1 (278) percent 
of the software companies, out of the operational 323 software 
houses. 

Almost 73 percent (202) of the software houses responded to all the 
questions by providing all the relevant information. It said out of 
the covered 278 software houses, 245 (88 percent) were local and 33 
(12 percent) were subsidiary. Almost 50 percent (16) of the 
subsidiary were located at Islamabad, 30 percent in Lahore and rest 
in Karachi. 

The report estimated the annual software earnings at $ 62.10 million 
for the year 2000. The assumption has been made on the basis that 115 
software houses indicated software earnings of $ 22.114 million in 
2000, whereas the remaining 163 software houses did not reply to the 
question. 

The reported earning of 153 software houses through the sale of 
software for local projects amounted to Rs 1061.388 million during 
2000-2001, whereas during the July-September period it was Rs. 
215.012 million. 

The report mentioned that 17 local software companies have ISO 9000 
IT standards while 7 software companies have CMM levels and majority 
of the remaining were in the process to attain quality standards. 

The report also revealed that there were 9585 PCs available with 278 
software houses at an average of 34 PCs per software houses. 

Among the surveyed 278 Software Houses (SWHs), about 86 percent (238) 
have Dial Up facilities, 39 have ISDN (Integrated Services Digital 
Network), 33 have Digital Gross Connection, 9 have Radio Modem and 6 
have VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) facilities. 

The census revealed 159 SWHs were also involved in IT consultancy, 74 
providing IT training, 48 providing transcription services, 36 
engaged in hardware, software, networking and vend-ring only 22 in 
ASP and 21 in ISP business. 

Regarding  "Field of Expertise," it said, about 58 percent of SWHs 
indicated that they don't have expertise in any field, 23 percent 
SWHs responded that they have expertise in Oracle financial, 17 
indicated expertise in Web Sphere, 9 percent in Oracle manufacturing, 
5 percent in SAP and 3 percent in commerce. About 45 percent (126) 
SWHs have financial services as 
specialized client industry, 34 percent (95) manufacturing, 25 
percent in distribution, 23 
percent in health management and 25 percent indicate as "none". 

Almost 85 percent of the SWHs are using Windows 2000, whereas, 78 
percent are using Windows NT 
and Windows 98 and about 40 percent are still using Windows 95. 
Besides, 45 percent (125) use 
Linux, 28 percent (78) using UNIX, 19 percent (53) Solaris, 20 SWHs 
using OS/400, 8 SWH using 
Apple and only 2 SWHs operating mainframe, the report said.  


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