The information technology (IT) sector of Pakistan can play an instrumental role in boosting declining exports of the country as it can align export-based industries on modern lines, suggested Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Abdul Basit.He was speaking at a seminar on “IT growth opportunities” at the LCCI on Thursday. The LCCI chief said IT services contributed 17% to services sector’s exports of $5 billion in 2016. At present, about 2,000 software houses and call centres are running in the country.Basit decried that despite providing services to globally renowned entities, the country’s IT sector contributed hardly 0.2% to the global IT trade of around $500 billion.He heaped praise on young IT experts Arfa Karim and Ayan Qureshi as signs of the enormous potential Pakistan had in the IT sector. He said the Pakistan Software Export Board and private sector should join hands to give much-needed boost to the national exports.Published in The Express Tribune, September 8, 2017.Like Business on Facebook , follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.