Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif eliminated about $ 700 million promises in new foreign investments in the IT sector on Tuesday and asked international interested parties to continue supporting Pakistan’s trip, since he was ready to lead the global digital economy.
The Prime Minister addressed the Direct Digital Investment Conference (DFDI-2025) here, stating that Pakistan “is not waiting for the future, but gives it shape.”
The conference, attended by global technological leaders, investors and innovation champions, marked a significant step in the appearance of Pakistan as a key player in the global digital economy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his opening opening speech, shared ideas of his four decades in public service, observing the “change of sea in the global dynamics driven by digital transformation.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to position Pakistan as the next important technological destination in the world. “Our youth, between 15 and 30 years, constitutes 60% of the population. They are the architects of our digital future,” said Prime Minister.
He highlighted the strategic initiatives of the Government, including the launch of federal and provincial IT parks, incubation centers and a large -scale R&D ecosystem.
He announced a new association with the Global Huawei technology giant, which will train 200,000 boys and girls annually through a Joint Development Program.
He said that in March of this year, Pakistan received a record of $ 4.1 billion in foreign remittances, indicating a growing confidence in the country’s digital potential.
“We are not only building a digital economy: we are creating a digital Pakistan. From the transformation of agriculture to AI to the expansion of exports with intelligent technology, this is the time for global investors to join us,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also invited the world to invest, guide and grow with Pakistan. Together, we will make Pakistan a main light in the digital age, “he added.
Separately, the prime minister ordered the relevant authorities on Tuesday to immediately begin the work on the viability of a railway link between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, aimed at improving regional connectivity and trade.
He issued these directives during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transportation, Marath Karabayev, at the Prime Minister’s house.
During the meeting, the prime minister extended his best wishes to the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and recalled his productive interaction with him during the World Water Summit held in Saudi Arabia.
He expressed a great anticipation for the next visit of President Tokayev to Pakistan, describing it as an important step to strengthen bilateral ties.
The prime minister said that the proposed rail link would be a “change of play” for the entire region, since it would connect to the states of Central Asia directly with the port of Gwadar of Pakistan, improving trade routes and economic opportunities.
