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Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Can Pakistan seize its digital moment?
Pakistan, by contrast, has opted out of the ITA, one of the world's most successful digital trade agreements, whose membership has grown to 86 countries accounting for over 97% of global digital trade.: photo: file Listen to article Just as Pakistan earned global recognition for its pivot to solar energy, it is now positioning itself as a rising force in the digital economy. Named "Tech Destination of the Year" at GITEX Global 2024, Pakistan justified this award by co-hosting the first-ever Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) 2025 Conference in partnership with the Saudi-led Digital Cooperation Organisation. The high-profile event attracted over 400 delegates and more than 200 tech companies from 30+ countries, resulting in investment commitments surpassing $700 million — a clear signal of growing international confidence in Pakistan's digital potential. These milestones are not isolated achievements but part of a broader digital transformation taking shape across the country. Nowhere is this more evident than in export performance. While merchandise exports remain sluggish— losing over 1.5% in global export share annually for the last two decades and falling behind regional competitors — Information Communication Technology (ICT) services are charting a different trajectory. Last year, ICT export remittances reached $3.223 billion, and in the first nine months of the current financial year, they grew by an impressive 28% year-on-year. The sector, requiring virtually no imported raw materials apart from computers, channels the majority of its export earnings into the national trade surplus. In FY2023-24, this surplus amounted to $2.827 billion — approximately 88% of total ICT remittances. However, if Pakistan wants to build on this success and capture a meaningful share of the global digital services market, it must look outward as other successful countries are doing. For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) exported over $$48 billion in digital services in 2023 — more than fifteen times Pakistan's current ICT export volume. The UAE's achievements are rooted in its global digital engagement, including membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and its leadership in AI-driven trade policy frameworks. Pakistan, by contrast, has opted out of the ITA, one of the world's most successful digital trade agreements, whose membership has grown to 86 countries accounting for over 97% of global digital trade. The only requirement for membership is to eliminate tariffs on IT products — yet Pakistan remains among the few countries, mostly from Africa, that continue to forgo the long-term gains for nominal tariff revenues. In parallel, the WTO members are negotiating a landmark E-commerce Agreement aimed at establishing global rules for digital trade. The agreement is set to facilitate cross-border electronic transactions, reduce regulatory and technical barriers, and promote innovation in e-commerce. Unfortunately, Pakistan has once again chosen to remain on the sidelines, missing another opportunity to align itself with the future of global commerce. The real challenge now is whether Pakistan can abandon its isolationist mindset and build an innovation-driven economy or whether it will repeat the policy failures that crippled its goods exports. In the digital sector, traditional trade barriers may not exist, but self-imposed restrictions — like the past ban on YouTube and the ongoing blockade of X (formerly Twitter) — pose a similar threat. These platforms are vital for digital outreach, entrepreneurship, and global visibility. Blocking them undermines investor confidence and deters foreign interest in Pakistan's tech ecosystem. To avoid repeating past mistakes, Pakistan must adopt a proactive, globally integrated digital trade strategy. This means engaging with multilateral digital agreements, opening markets, and fostering cross-border collaboration. Encouragingly, the Ministry of Information Technology is well-positioned to lead this shift. It is led by a dynamic young minister and supported by a Federal Secretary who is an industry expert rather than a career bureaucrat. Pakistan stands at a digital crossroads. Its recent recognition and growth in ICT exports have created a window of opportunitybut unless accompanied by global integration, enabling regulation, and policy coherence, this momentum may prove short-lived. To secure its digital future, Pakistan must shift from cautious optimism to bold action. THE WRITER IS A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE PAKISTAN INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS (PIDE) AND HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS PAKISTAN'S AMBASSADOR TO THE WTO AND THE FAO'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
IT sector eyes $15b boom as DFDI spurs momentum
Listen to article Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, on Wednesday, reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to accelerating digital transformation, highlighting significant progress in IT exports and investment pledges during the Digital Direct Investment Forum (DDIF). Addressing a press conference alongside Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) Secretary General Deemah AlYahya, Khawaja said government policies have already delivered a 25% increase in IT exports. Pakistan is projected to reach $4 billion in IT exports in the current fiscal year (July 2024-June 2025), up from $3.2 billion last year — marking 27% growth. The minister announced ambitious targets of generating $15 billion in direct IT exports and products, along with an additional $10 billion in economic impact through the National Digitalisation Programme. "Participants at the forum have pledged nearly $700 million in Pakistan's digital sector," she noted, calling the DDIF a vital platform for attracting international partners and investment. DCO Secretary General AlYahya praised Pakistan's digital efforts and thanked the Ministry of IT, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and partners for organising the successful forum. "We congratulate Pakistan on such an impactful event," she said. Meanwhile, on World Password Day, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky issued a warning about the risks of using AI-generated passwords. The company found that many passwords created by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Llama, and DeepSeek were still vulnerable. According to Kaspersky's data science team lead Alexey Antonov, up to 32% of LLM-generated passwords lacked required elements like special characters or digits. Nearly 60% of the 1,000 passwords tested could be cracked in under an hour using modern GPUs or cloud-based tools. Kaspersky recommends using dedicated password management tools rather than relying on AI. "All of the models are aware that a good password consists of at least 12 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols," says Antonov, adding that, "In practice, though, the algorithms often neglect these instructions."
Jordan Times
19-02-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Jordan hosts fourth digital cooperation organisation assembly at the Dead Sea
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Wednesday receives Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) Deemah Al Yahya at the Prime Ministry (Petra photo) AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Wednesday received Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) Deemah Al Yahya at the Prime Ministry. Al Yahya was accompanied by the heads of delegations attending the DCO's fourth General Assembly, which is currently chaired by Jordan and being held at the Dead Sea, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The prime minister commended the DCO's pivotal role in advancing digital cooperation among member states, supporting digital transformation and enabling the digital economy to drive sustainable development. He also highlighted the National Council for Future Technology, established under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah and chaired by the prime minister, with oversight from HRH Crown Prince Hussein. The council is set to play a key role in shaping Jordan's digital policies, fostering private-sector partnerships and staying ahead of technological developments. Hassan emphasised the importance of Jordan's hosting of the meeting, especially amid the rapid global shift toward digital transformation. He noted that Jordan's vision for digital development aligns closely with the DCO's objectives, reinforcing the country's commitment to advancing digital innovation. Al Yahya expressed her appreciation for Jordan's hospitality, saying that the General Assembly marks a significant milestone in strengthening digital cooperation among member states. She also highlighted that the event in Jordan is a reflection of a shared commitment to building an inclusive, thriving digital ecosystem that creates sustainable economic opportunities in line with future needs. Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smirat stressed that hosting the fourth General Assembly underscores Jordan's dedication to bolstering digital cooperation with the DCO's 16 member states. The heads of delegations reiterated their countries' commitment to enhancing collaboration and supporting the DCO's ambitious vision of creating an inclusive and sustainable digital economy.
