PSEB Representatives
"Amidst the damage of Evacuee Trust Complex (ETC) building where around 23 IT companies were housed, IT companies in Islamabad have restored their operations to normal from alternate facilities and are fulfilling contractual obligations to local and international clients. Mr. Talib Baloch, MD PSEB & Ms. Jehan Ara, President P@SHA said in a joint statement issued here after a meeting in Islamabad.
"Most of the Companies in the building were allied offices of international firms all of which have proper business continuity plans in place as a part of their strategic business plans".
The bomb-blast outside the Marriott, Islamabad also affected Evacuee Trust Complex (ETC), as it is located just next to Marriott Hotel. The building was the hub of IT Industry in Islamabad with around twenty-three prominent ICT companies and various other Multinationals.
Although the soft structure of building was smashed with interrupted power and other infrastructure issues but the equipment, data /record and furniture other than glass structure of all companies is reported safe and intact. This temporarily paralyzed the operations of tenant companies in the building. In addition to a few minor and eight seriously injured, six causalities have also been reported. The deceased include three employees of tenant companies and three security guards at ETC building. PSEB and P@SHA offer their sincere condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the vicious attack.
The building was initially sealed but after the intervention of Federal Secretary of Information Technology & MD PSEB, physical access was allowed to the tenant companies on emergency basis to remove their mission critical assets. Companies collected their critical equipment, furniture and records to restore their operations from alternate locations / facilities on war-footing basis. No theft or mismanagement was reported as companies moved their assets from the building. Many companies such as iKonami, Ovex Technologies, Cogilent Solutions, Jin Technologies, LMKR, PiSigma etc. have reinstated their operations from alternate sites in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. International community outsourcing IT to Pakistan has also expressed their satisfaction on continuity of business with Pakistani IT companies. The industry stands tall to fulfill all international and local business commitments. Mr. Ken Morse, MD MIT Entrepreneurship Center, USA, assured his continued support to Pakistan IT industry and confirmed his scheduled visit to Pakistan in November 2008.
To facilitate those affected, vigorous efforts are being made by PSEB to identify and arrange alternate facilities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for both IT Companies and Call Centers on urgent basis to ensure continuation of business. Office space of more than 268,000 sq ft. has been identified to ETC tenant Companies. Few of these locations are ideal to convert into Software Technology Park and negotiations are underway with the owners. More than 690 fully and partially operational seats for call centers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have also been arranged by PSEB and offered to the tenant companies, MD PSEB added.
Both the public and private sector is actively working together to reinstate the temporary loss suffered by the industry. President P@SHA, Ms. Jehan Ara reached Islamabad today to visit the building and met the affected companies. MD PSEB and President P@SHA requested IT companies having excess capacity to help each other by sharing office space. MoIT, PSEB, P@SHA and other industry leaders strongly demand the Chairman ETPB (Evacuee Trust Property Board) to take steps on war footing for the restoration of the building within next 30 days.
"Most of the Companies in the building were allied offices of international firms all of which have proper business continuity plans in place as a part of their strategic business plans".
The bomb-blast outside the Marriott, Islamabad also affected Evacuee Trust Complex (ETC), as it is located just next to Marriott Hotel. The building was the hub of IT Industry in Islamabad with around twenty-three prominent ICT companies and various other Multinationals.
Although the soft structure of building was smashed with interrupted power and other infrastructure issues but the equipment, data /record and furniture other than glass structure of all companies is reported safe and intact. This temporarily paralyzed the operations of tenant companies in the building. In addition to a few minor and eight seriously injured, six causalities have also been reported. The deceased include three employees of tenant companies and three security guards at ETC building. PSEB and P@SHA offer their sincere condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the vicious attack.
The building was initially sealed but after the intervention of Federal Secretary of Information Technology & MD PSEB, physical access was allowed to the tenant companies on emergency basis to remove their mission critical assets. Companies collected their critical equipment, furniture and records to restore their operations from alternate locations / facilities on war-footing basis. No theft or mismanagement was reported as companies moved their assets from the building. Many companies such as iKonami, Ovex Technologies, Cogilent Solutions, Jin Technologies, LMKR, PiSigma etc. have reinstated their operations from alternate sites in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. International community outsourcing IT to Pakistan has also expressed their satisfaction on continuity of business with Pakistani IT companies. The industry stands tall to fulfill all international and local business commitments. Mr. Ken Morse, MD MIT Entrepreneurship Center, USA, assured his continued support to Pakistan IT industry and confirmed his scheduled visit to Pakistan in November 2008.
To facilitate those affected, vigorous efforts are being made by PSEB to identify and arrange alternate facilities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for both IT Companies and Call Centers on urgent basis to ensure continuation of business. Office space of more than 268,000 sq ft. has been identified to ETC tenant Companies. Few of these locations are ideal to convert into Software Technology Park and negotiations are underway with the owners. More than 690 fully and partially operational seats for call centers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have also been arranged by PSEB and offered to the tenant companies, MD PSEB added.
Both the public and private sector is actively working together to reinstate the temporary loss suffered by the industry. President P@SHA, Ms. Jehan Ara reached Islamabad today to visit the building and met the affected companies. MD PSEB and President P@SHA requested IT companies having excess capacity to help each other by sharing office space. MoIT, PSEB, P@SHA and other industry leaders strongly demand the Chairman ETPB (Evacuee Trust Property Board) to take steps on war footing for the restoration of the building within next 30 days.
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