Islamabad: Pakistan is accelerating its push to become a “Digital Nation,” with a focus on information technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Sunday. The country has secured over USD 700 million in international digital investments, underscoring its growing role in the global technology ecosystem. Speaking at the 27th National Security Workshop held at the National Defence University, Khawaja said the digital sector is a key driver of economic security, strategic stability, and global competitiveness. The session was attended by parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, journalists, and representatives of civil society.
Read: IT sector posts historic USD 4.6 bn in exports in FY 2024-25 The minister highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing initiatives to bolster the tech ecosystem, including 43 Software Technology Parks, over 400 tech companies operating in repurposed malls, 85 incubators, eight National Incubation Centres, and two CEGA centres. She also noted that more than 4,100 startups are currently being supported through international collaborations with countries including the USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Germany, and Jordan. Key programmes driving the sector include the Pakistan Startup Fund, BridgeStart (which sends startups to international accelerators), the Prime Minister’s Cloud Programme, DigiSkills 3.0, which has trained 4.3 million Pakistanis, and the SkillTech Initiative. Educational reforms include updated IT and AI curricula, a semiconductor programme training 7,200 professionals, as well as initiatives like TikTok’s STEM Feed and Meta’s AI-in-Urdu project. On international engagement, Khawaja cited Pakistan’s participation in major global events such as WAIC Shanghai, LEAP Riyadh, DCO General Assembly in Amman, AI for Good Summit in Geneva, and GITEX Global 2025. She added that Google has completed formalities to open its Pakistan office and signed an MoU for digital skills development.
Read: FBR warns of heavy fines for businesses failing to adopt digital invoicing Khawaja also highlighted Pakistan’s advancements in cybersecurity, particularly the Marka-e-Haq initiative, crediting coordinated efforts among the armed forces, government, and private sector under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. She reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to building a secure, modern, and globally competitive digital nation. The announcements reflect the government’s strategy to position Pakistan as a regional leader in technology, innovation, and digital skills development, while attracting significant foreign investment to strengthen its IT infrastructure and startup ecosystem.
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