PAKISTAN
In a landmark step toward advancing its digital transformation agenda, Pakistan inaugurated the first-ever Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum 2025 today. The event, held under the patronage of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, marked a bold statement of Pakistan’s readiness to become a regional digital investment hub.
The Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in collaboration with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), was attended by over 30 ministers from DCO member states, 75 international investors, and representatives from more than 100 leading Pakistani IT firms.
Ms. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO, joined as the Guest of Honor, reinforcing the strength of global cooperation in digital innovation. The opening day saw investment announcements worth $700 million, signaling robust international confidence in Pakistan’s digital economy.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, while addressing the gathering, highlighted recent achievements:
“Pakistan’s ICT exports have grown by over 25% in the past nine months, showing the growth of our digital economy,” she said.
“We have improved our position by 14 places in the UN E-Government Development Index between 2022 and 2024 — a reflection of our ongoing commitment to digital progress and service delivery.”
Minister Khawaja, alongside DCO Secretary-General AlYahya, also engaged with over 40 Pakistani startups and technology companies, commending their innovation and investor readiness. The interactions spotlighted the potential of Pakistan’s youth-driven digital ecosystem and its alignment with global digital investment trends.
The Forum concluded its first day with a renewed sense of momentum toward positioning Islamabad as the “Davos of Digital Investment”, setting the stage for future global partnerships, innovation, and accelerated economic growth through digitalization. – Engineering Review
