Pakistan’s Sindh province could be a key player in the global chipmaking industry, thanks to a discovery by the Department of Information Technology (IT) and a team of experts. According to their findings, sand from the Thar Desert is remarkably well-suited for use in the production of computer chips.
This revelation opens doors for Pakistan to meet the ever-growing demand for chips in the digital age. Experts believe Thar sand can be a crucial component in the manufacturing process, specifically for the chip layer. The IT Department has already submitted proposals for a silicon chip wafer foundry to both federal and provincial governments.
The project’s feasibility is further bolstered by the availability of other necessary resources in the region. Thar boasts readily accessible coal, water, and electricity – all essential ingredients for chip wafer production.
Funding for the proposed $450 million chip wafer foundry could potentially come from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Additionally, a 150-acre plot in Islamkot’s Tharparkar district has been identified as a potential location for the factory.
With the groundwork laid, the Sindh IT Department has taken the initiative by preparing preliminary documents for the Chip Wafer Foundry project and forwarding them to the relevant ministries. This development signifies a significant step towards Pakistan’s potential involvement in the global chip manufacturing landscape.
