DFDI-2025: PM hails $700m pledges in new foreign investment in IT sector 

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that $700 million in foreign investment pledges made at the Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum will help unlock the true potential of Pakistan’s youth in the Information Technology (IT) sector.

Addressing the two-day forum in Islamabad, he shared his hope that Pakistan will rise as a key player in global Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

PM Shehbaz invited international investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan, promising full government support and facilitation.

He emphasized that the country’s youth are talented and full of energy, and Pakistan offers great promise in the digital space.

The prime minister also mentioned that remittances reached a record $4.1 billion in March, showing growing confidence in the economy.

He said that the government is rolling out major initiatives further boost the digital including setting up IT parks and startup incubators, along with launching training programs for young people.

“A partnership with tech company Huawei will provide digital skills training to 200,000 youth every year,” PM Shehbaz said, adding that that investment is also welcomed in agriculture and industry, which will help create more jobs.

Speaking on the occasion, Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary General Deemah AlYahya praised Pakistan’s progress and said the forum reflects the country’s readiness to lead in the global digital economy.

She pointed out that the participation of over 1,000 investors, innovators, and policymakers shows strong international interest in Pakistan’s digital future.

Addressing the event, Minister for IT Shaza Fatima highlighted the government’s focus on digital transformation. She noted that Pakistan’s IT exports have grown by 25% in the first nine months of this fiscal year.

A national AI policy is in the works, and efforts are underway to build a cashless economy for faster, safer, and more inclusive financial transactions.

The minister also mentioned that mobile phone production has increased by 48% in the past year, with over 31 million devices made annually.

She said many government departments have been digitized recently, and the government remains committed to creating a strong digital economy, better digital governance, and a connected society.