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Arab News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Riyadh-based digital bloc says Pakistan's 2026 presidency to boost country's global tech standing
ISLAMABAD: The Secretary-General of the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, said on Tuesday Pakistan's forthcoming presidency of the multilateral body was part of ongoing efforts to position the country as a regional and global digital leader. Founded in November 2020, the DCO is an intergovernmental organization aimed at accelerating digital transformation and encouraging collaboration among member states. The organization's founding members include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Pakistan, with Nigeria and Oman joining shortly thereafter. Pakistan is scheduled to assume the DCO presidency in 2026, following Kuwait's term in 2025. AlYahya, a Saudi digital economy expert and the organization's Secretary-General since April 2021, is responsible for engaging with heads of state, ministers and private sector leaders to bridge digital divides across member nations. She is currently in Islamabad for a two-day Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) summit, organized by Pakistan's Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in collaboration with the DCO. The event has attracted over 400 delegates and more than 200 IT and telecom companies from over 30 countries. 'The presidency of Pakistan that is planned for 2026 for DCO is a continuous effort for positioning Pakistan as the digital powerhouse for the region and for the globe as well,' the DCO secretary-general told Arab News in an exclusive conversation on the sidelines of the forum in Islamabad. She said Pakistan's leadership role would not only benefit the country in terms of infrastructure and technological advancement but also put it in a position where it will be able to support other countries to grow as well. 'The DCO is working to open markets for enterprises across all member states, enabling smooth and healthy cross-border collaboration, so Pakistan will have a leading role in making such kind of advancement happen,' she added. AlYahya said that seeing the youth and the growth in Pakistan's digital sector gave her a great sense of optimism. 'It gives us a lot of motivation to put hands in hands with all our member countries and utilize the amazing advancement in each and every country,' she added. She noted that DCO believed every country had a unique competitive advantage that can help address challenges faced by others, adding it was her organization's role to identify these imperatives, strengths and areas for improvement. 'The Digital FDI event here in Pakistan … is one example of how can we explore the competitive advantage of the great infrastructure, youth, talent, the advancement in software and hardware here in Pakistan and attract the private sector to harness these opportunities in the land of Pakistan,' she added. Pakistan's IT exports reached a record $3.2 billion in FY2024, reflecting a 24 percent increase from the previous year, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. In the first half of the current fiscal year (FY2025), exports rose further to $1.86 billion, up 28 percent year-on-year, with monthly figures averaging around $310 million. This growth trajectory is underpinned by a number of factors, including an expanding global client base, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Pakistan is now aiming to cross the $4 billion mark in IT exports by the end of FY2025.
Business Recorder
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Space technology: PM expresses his desire to enhance ties with China
ISLAMABAD: Calling Beijing as a 'very trusted friend' and 'strategic partner', Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the country is seeking to deepen its cooperation with China in the field of space technology. The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of Chinese aerospace firm Galaxy Space led by its chairman Xu Ming. He said that Pakistan hopes to expand joint efforts with China in areas such as satellite development, telecommunications, and satellite internet, adding the country places 'great importance' on advancing its space technology capabilities. Tiangong: Pakistan to send first astronaut to China's space station Members of the visiting delegation expressed a strong interest in investing in Pakistan's growing space sector and exploring collaborative projects with national space institutions and private telecom operators. They also held meetings with Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication officials, as well as Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) – Pakistan's national space agency – which they described as 'very productive'. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
22-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Stronger space ties with China sought
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistan was keen to increase cooperation with China in the fields of space technology, space satellites, telecommunications, and satellite internet. The premier made these remarks in a meeting with a delegation from the Chinese space technology company Galaxy Space, led by the company's Chairman Xu Ming. Calling China a very trusted friend and a strategic partner, the prime minister emphasized that Pakistan places great importance on the space technology sector. The delegation members also expressed strong interest in investing in Pakistan's space technology industry and collaborating on joint projects with Pakistani space institutions and private telecom companies. Thanking the Government of Pakistan for warm hospitality, they told the prime minister that their meetings with officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and SUPARCO were very useful. Separately, on Tuesday, the prime minister expressed satisfaction with the growing trajectory of bilateral ties with Rwanda, and said that Pakistan seeks to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, particularly trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. The prime minister met with Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda Ambassador Olivier JP Nduhungirehe, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan. The premier welcomed the dignitary and conveyed his good wishes to President Paul Kagame and Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente of Rwanda. He extended an invitation to President Kagame to undertake an official visit to Pakistan. The prime minister congratulated Rwanda on opening its resident Mission in Islamabad and said that it would prove instrumental in enhancing bilateral trade, particularly, through enhanced B2B interaction. Meanwhile, the premier on Tuesday emphasized that Pakistan, along with other countries affected by climate change, requires special financial assistance from international financial institutions to address the challenges posed by climate change. During a meeting with Luc Triangle, Secretary General International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), at the PM House, the premier noted that Pakistan is among the countries most severely affected by climate change. "The 2022 floods alone caused losses amounting to $30 billion." He pointed out that these climate-related challenges have led to significant employment difficulties and losses for workers and labourers in Pakistan.
Express Tribune
22-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan aims to expand space cooperation with China, says PM Shehbaz
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Pakistan is keen to enhance cooperation with China in the fields of space technology, satellite communications, and internet services. The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with delegation from Chinese space technology firm Galaxy Space, led by Chairman Xu Ming. The prime minister described China as a 'very trusted friend' and 'strategic partner,' adding that Pakistan places high importance on the growth of its space and telecommunication sectors. The Chinese delegation expressed strong interest in investing in Pakistan's space industry and pursuing joint ventures with the country's space agency SUPARCO, as well as local telecom companies. They also held productive discussions with officials from Pakistan's Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. Federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with Advisor to the PM Dr Tauqir Shah, attended the meeting. Last year, Pakistan launched its first lunar satellite in collaboration with China. The ICUBE-Q CubeSat, developed by the Institute of Space Technology (IST) with support from SUPARCO and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, entered lunar orbit via China's Chang'e-6 mission. The 7kg satellite carried cameras and sensors for imaging and deep-space communication.
Business Recorder
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CMCC delegation visits MoITT
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to advancing digital innovation and technological cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Pakistan's Digital Vision, as a high-level delegation from China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC) visited the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT). The delegation, led by CMCC Chairman Yang Jie, held a detailed meeting with Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja. Senior officials from both sides, including representatives from China Mobile headquarters, secretary IT, additional secretary IT, and chairman PTA, were present at the meeting. Key areas of collaboration discussed included the development of AI-powered, energy-efficient data centers, fast-tracking the rollout of 5G technology, and establishing a Pakistan-China digital connectivity corridor to enhance regional digital integration. Both sides also explored opportunities for content hosting partnerships with leading Chinese digital platforms and initiatives to strengthen Artificial Intelligence education in Pakistan. Khawaja welcomed CMCC's continued investment and support, stating that such partnerships are crucial for expanding digital access, enhancing capacity, and driving innovation across the country. She reiterated the prime minister's vision of a digitally inclusive and empowered Pakistan. The initiatives discussed align with Pakistan's broader digital goals—achieving nationwide internet speeds of 100 Mbps, expanding fixed broadband to 10 million households, and raising smartphone penetration to over 85 percent. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
