Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that Pakistan has secured approximately $700 million in fresh foreign investment commitments for its growing information technology sector.
According to media reports, speaking at the Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI-2025) conference, the prime minister urged international stakeholders to continue supporting Pakistan’s ambitions to emerge as a major player in the global digital economy.
He highlighted Pakistan’s youthful population and expanding digital infrastructure as key drivers for the country’s future. “We are not waiting for the future, we are shaping it,” he said, referring to the potential of the country’s young demographic to lead in digital innovation.
The conference, which drew global tech leaders, investors, and innovators, marked a significant step in Pakistan’s digital transformation strategy. “Every possible facility will be provided to the investors in Pakistan’s IT sector,” Sharif promised, welcoming representatives from 11 countries to the event.
The PM also emphasised the role of a new generation of Pakistanis, skilled in artificial intelligence, in transforming sectors such as agriculture and exports. “Sixty percent of our population is young and full of talent,” he said, noting that the country’s digital potential is already making an impact both domestically and internationally. In March 2025, overseas Pakistanis sent a record-breaking $4.1 billion in remittances, underscoring the country’s economic connectivity through digital means.
He also mentioned a key partnership with Chinese tech giant Huawei, which trains 200,000 students annually in advanced technologies. He called on global investors, including those from North America, to engage with Pakistan’s rapidly growing IT sector.
Sharif reflected on his past achievements, including distributing 400,000 laptops to students during his tenure as Punjab’s chief minister, and added that, with the support of the World Bank, Pakistan’s rural economy is also moving towards digitization. He pointed to projects like Safe City surveillance, IT parks, and AI training hubs as examples of the country’s progress.
In addition to the $700 million in pledges, the prime minister acknowledged a $500 million investment from a Pakistani entrepreneur in collaboration with a Russian partner. “We’re not just building a digital economy – we’re creating a digital Pakistan,” Sharif said, urging global investors to be part of this transformation.
Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, praised Pakistan’s efforts, calling the country’s digital transformation a “revolution.” She highlighted Pakistan’s 142 million broadband users, 65% smartphone penetration, and projected IT exports exceeding $4 billion as evidence of its growing influence in the digital sector.
Sharif reiterated his personal commitment to realizing these technological ambitions, vowing that through continued effort, Pakistan will secure its place as a leading force in the global IT landscape.
