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Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Investor confidence: Minister praises SIFC for being key driver
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday praised the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), describing it as a key driver in restoring investor confidence through its 'whole-of-government' approach. Speaking at the two-day Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) conference, Khawaja credited the military-backed initiative with streamlining decision-making and fostering a coordinated environment that reassures both local and foreign investors. 'The SIFC's whole-of-government approach has significantly contributed to building investor confidence in Pakistan,' she added. She said Pakistan is ready to become a hub of technology and digital investment, adding strong public-private partnerships, progressive policies, and a growing number of skilled IT professionals as key strengths. 'Today, we can proudly say that if you invest in Pakistan, we will make sure the magic happens for you,' she said, emphasising the need for continued collaboration between the public and private sectors, international partners, and development organisations to unlock Pakistan's full potential – not only in IT but also in agriculture, healthcare, finance, education, and manufacturing. 'Technology is no longer limited to one sector. It now plays a role in every field and is essential for overall development,' she added, noting that the digital shift brings both challenges and new opportunities for growth. Khawaja highlighted Pakistan's demographic advantage, with nearly 150 million young people under the age of 30, which she said gives the country a promising future in digital innovation. She also outlined key policy initiatives, including the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, the National AI Policy, the Cybersecurity Policy, the development of technology parks and special technology zones, and support for a strong startup ecosystem and the transition to a cashless economy. 'Pakistan now offers a complete digital ecosystem driven by leadership, vision, and talent. We are no longer followers—we are ready to lead,' she said. She credited the prime minister's leadership for steering these efforts and noted that around 75,000 IT graduates and 300,000 certified professionals join the workforce every year, providing a solid base for growth. She announced that Pakistan will assume the presidency of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) in 2026 and expressed hope for expanding regional technology corridors to ensure access to markets, talent, capital, and best practices. Khawaja also thanked the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Ministry of Commerce, local administration, security agencies, and especially the private sector for their support. Speaking at a presser, Secretary General of DCO Deemah AlYahya commended Pakistan for championing DFDI. She emphasised that Pakistan's leadership role would not only advance the nation's technological infrastructure but also enable it to support other countries in their digital growth. She said the presidency of Pakistan for DCO in 2026 is a continued effort to position the country as the digital powerhouse for the region and the world, adding the DCO is working to open markets for enterprises across all member states, fostering cross-border collaboration. Pakistan, she noted, will play a key role in driving these advancements. AlYahya also expressed optimism about Pakistan's growing digital sector, particularly the youth-driven innovation. 'Seeing the youth and the growth in Pakistan's digital sector gives us a great sense of optimism,' she said. 'It motivates us to collaborate with all our member countries and utilise the advancements in each nation.' She highlighted the importance of identifying each country's competitive advantages to address global challenges, noting that DCO's role is to pinpoint these strengths and areas for improvement. She pointed to the Digital FDI event in Pakistan as an example of how the country's infrastructure, youth talent, and advancements in software and hardware could attract private sector investment and harness new opportunities. 'The Digital FDI event here in Pakistan is a prime example of how we can leverage Pakistan's competitive advantages to create global opportunities,' she added. The two-day moot concluded with a strong pledge to position Pakistan as a regional leader in technology, information technology (IT), and information and communication technology (ICT). The event saw participation from more than 45 countries, with over 40 international companies and startups showcasing their products. Around 35 ministers and official delegations from various countries attended, along with over 30 global speakers and more than 50 CEOs from leading IT firms. Organised by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication in collaboration with the DCO, the DFDI Forum 2025 was aimed to promote Pakistan as a key destination for digital investment and innovation. The forum brought together investors, policymakers, industry leaders, and tech experts from around the world to explore opportunities in the growing digital economy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Inclusive prosperity promotion: Minister calls for Pakistan-ASEAN technology alliance
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has called for a technology alliance between Pakistan and ASEAN to promote inclusive prosperity. The minister expressed these views while addressing the ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Expo 2025 as the chief guest at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad on Monday. The minister said that our vision is to make Pakistan a knowledge economy that empowers the youth, strengthens its industries and plays a meaningful role in regional cooperation. The two-day event brought together distinguished delegates from ASEAN member states, academia, industry leaders, and students to foster collaboration in science, technology, and innovation. The minister underscored the significance of the Expo as a symbol of shared commitment between Pakistan and ASEAN nations to harness the transformative power of technology. He emphasised the dual nature of technological change, which offers immense promise but also presents serious challenges. From artificial intelligence to clean energy, Iqbal noted that disruptive innovations are reshaping global economies and societies, and highlighted the risks posed by the growing technology gap, digital divide, and skills mismatch in developing regions. Iqbal outlined the common challenges faced by Pakistan and ASEAN countries, including climate change, youth unemployment, and uneven digital infrastructure, while also pointing to shared strengths such as a young and tech-savvy population, robust universities, and a growing appetite for innovation. He stated that this synergy forms the foundation for deeper cooperation in science and technology. Reaffirming Pakistan's strong commitment to its partnership with ASEAN, Iqbal proposed a forward-looking vision for ASEAN-Pakistan technology collaboration. He outlined three strategic pillars to drive this agenda: fostering knowledge and talent exchange through academic partnerships and innovation fellowships; building joint research and development platforms in emerging fields; and ensuring that technology contributes to sustainable and inclusive development, particularly in areas such as climate resilience, health, and education. The minister also highlighted recent milestones in Pakistan's journey toward a knowledge-based economy. These include the launch of the National AI Policy, the creation of Special Technology Zones to attract global investment, the digitisation of governance through the E-Pakistan initiative, and the strengthening of institutions such as NUST and Ignite to support startups and applied research. He emphasised that the future must be built through cooperation, innovation, and shared vision. Commending NUST for its leadership in technology education and research, he called upon the youth to develop technologies that serve not just markets, but the greater public good. The minister expressed hope that the ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Expo would mark the beginning of a new era of collaboration, shaping a smarter, greener, and more inclusive future for the region. In his concluding remarks, Iqbal issued a compelling call to action, urging all stakeholders to reimagine ASEAN-Pakistan relations not merely through the traditional lenses of trade and diplomacy, but as a dynamic technology alliance for inclusive and sustainable prosperity. He also proposed the following action steps for consideration at EXPO 2025: Establish an ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Cooperation Forum that convenes annually to identify joint initiatives, exchange innovative ideas, and evaluate collaborative progress. Launch an ASEAN-Pakistan Startup Bridge aimed at connecting incubators, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs across the region to foster a vibrant cross-border innovation ecosystem. Promote the development of regional standards and interoperability in digital technologies to enable efficient, seamless collaboration and integration among member states. Encourage the co-hosting of technology expos, hackathons, and innovation challenges that actively crowdsource solutions to shared developmental challenges and stimulate youth-led innovation. Institutionalise a structured digital dialogue bringing together policymakers, academia, industry leaders, and young innovators to ensure that technology policies remain inclusive, future-oriented, and people-centered. In his welcome remarks, Umar Khan, Project Director of the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA) at NUST, acknowledged the pivotal role of Ahsan Iqbal in establishing key national research centers. He highlighted that the NCRA, along with the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence, National Centre of Big Data and Cloud Computing, National Centre of Cyber Security, and the National Centre of GIS and Space Applications, were all launched in 2017-2018 as part of the minister's vision to propel Pakistan into a technology-driven future. He noted that Iqbal's unwavering dedication has transformed these initiatives into thriving ecosystems of innovation, commercialisation, and national impact. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan proposes tech alliance with ASEAN, eyes inclusive digital future
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has called for a strategic technology partnership between Pakistan and ASEAN to foster inclusive prosperity. Speaking at the ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Expo in Islamabad on Tuesday, he reiterated Pakistan's commitment to building an innovation-driven future. According to a statement from the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Minister Iqbal emphasized the dual-edged nature of technological progress in his address 'Disruptive innovations are reshaping global economies and societies,' the minister said, as he highlighted the 'risks posed by the growing technology gap, digital divide, and skills mismatch in developing regions.' He identified shared challenges like climate change and youth unemployment, while highlighting synergies such as 'young, tech-savvy populations and robust universities.' The minister proposed three strategic pillars for cooperation, involving knowledge exchange through academic partnerships, joint R&D platforms in emerging fields and inclusive tech development for climate resilience and healthcare. Noting Pakistan's strides like the National AI Policy and Special Technology Zones, Iqbal urged stakeholders to 'reimagine ASEAN-Pakistan relations not merely through the traditional lenses of trade and diplomacy, but as a dynamic technology alliance for inclusive and sustainable prosperity.' He announced concrete steps, including an annual ASEAN-Pakistan Technology Cooperation Forum and a Startup Bridge to link regional innovators. NUST's Umar Khan credited Iqbal's leadership for establishing pivotal research hubs like the National Centres of AI and Cybersecurity in 2017-18, now thriving innovation ecosystems. Concluding with a call to action, Iqbal stressed: 'Future must be built through cooperation, innovation, and shared vision.' The Expo aims to catalyze what he termed 'a smarter, greener, and more inclusive future for the region.'
