Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that commitments worth $700 million made at the Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum will help unlock the true potential of Pakistani youth. Addressing the two-day forum in Islamabad, he expressed confidence that Pakistan will become a leading force in the Information Technology sector.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister invited foreign investors to invest in Pakistan, assuring them of full facilitation to achieve the country’s aspirations in the fields of IT and Artificial Intelligence. He emphasized the opportunities available in Pakistan’s IT sector, noting the significant contributions of the country’s energetic youth both domestically and internationally. He also highlighted that total remittances reached a record $4.1 billion in March.
The government plans to promote IT and Artificial Intelligence through initiatives such as establishing IT Parks and incubation centers, and providing skills training to the youth. The Prime Minister mentioned an upcoming program with Huawei aimed at training 200,000 youth annually in Pakistan. He also urged investors to contribute to the development of Pakistan’s agriculture and industries to create more employment opportunities.
Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, Deemah AlYahya, remarked that the forum signifies Pakistan’s readiness to lead in the global digital economy. She highlighted the presence of 1,000 investors, innovators, and policymakers at the event as evidence of Pakistan’s emerging digital leadership.
Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja detailed the steps being taken to promote IT and digital transformation. She noted a 25% growth in IT exports in the first nine months of the current fiscal year and emphasized the government’s efforts to build a cashless economy. She also mentioned the significant increase in mobile manufacturing, with production surging by 48% in the last year, and the annual production of over 31 million devices. The government has digitized many departments in a short period, and remains committed to building a digital economy, governance, and society.