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PM Shehbaz Sharif Touts Pakistan as Future Tech Hub as $700M in Digital Investment Pledged
“Pakistan is not waiting for the future — we’re shaping it,” says PM Shehbaz at Pakistan’s first Digital FDI Conference as $700M foreign investment flows into the IT sector.
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-29
PM Shehbaz Sharif Touts Pakistan as Future Tech Hub as $700M in Digital Investment Pledged

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s goal to emerge as a major tech destination, following the announcement of $700 million in foreign investment for the country's IT sector during the inaugural Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) conference held in Islamabad.

The landmark event brought together over 75 foreign investors and CEOs from 50+ global tech firms, with delegates from 45 countries participating — a historic first for Pakistan’s digital investment landscape.

Addressing the gathering, PM Shehbaz said:

“Pakistan is not waiting for the future — we are shaping it.”

The prime minister underscored his government’s ongoing efforts to bolster the digital economy, citing the establishment of IT parks, incubation centres, and a thriving research and development ecosystem.

He announced a new public-private partnership under which Huawei will train 200,000 Pakistani youth in digital skills, calling the country’s youth aged 15-30 — who make up 60% of the population — “the architects of our digital future.”

Highlighting progress, the PM shared that Pakistan recorded $4.1 billion in remittances in March 2025, calling it a sign of increasing global confidence in Pakistan’s digital growth trajectory.

“We’re not just building a digital economy — we’re creating a digital Pakistan. From transforming agriculture through AI to boosting exports with smart technology, this is the moment for global investors to join us,” he said.

He invited international partners to “invest, guide, and grow with Pakistan”, stressing that the country is ready to lead the global digital economy.

Other Key Speakers:

  • Minister of IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja praised the digital talent pipeline, revealing that 300,000 youth were trained in IT skills this year under the PM’s oversight.
  • CEO of the Pakistan Software Export Board, Abu Bakar, announced that Pakistan’s IT exports are projected to exceed $4 billion, citing it as evidence of strong public-private collaboration.
  • Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation, praised Pakistan’s “historic moment of digital acceleration” and noted the country’s 142 million broadband subscribers and 65% smartphone penetration.
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