IT sector eyes $25m in exports to Qatar
Listen to article
Pakistan's IT exporters plan to increase the export of IT and IT-enabled services to Qatar, a key potential market, to $25 million in the next few years.
In collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT), the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), IT exporters are working on aggressive strategic expansion plans in both traditional and emerging markets with cutting-edge products and services.
As part of this initiative, a delegation of 10 IT companies with over 30 delegates is attending Web Summit Qatar 2025, one of the world's leading technology conferences. The delegation is showcasing Pakistan's dynamic IT and tech innovation landscape at a dedicated Pakistan Pavilion.
Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Senior Vice Chairman Umair Nizam said that Qatar's significant market is now opening up for Pakistani IT companies in a meaningful way due to the strides of Pakistan's IT industry, backed by the SIFC, PSEB, and MoITT.
Pakistani companies are presenting cutting-edge IT solutions, software services, and innovative tech products. Their participation reinforces Pakistan's position as a rising hub for IT and digital services, fostering connections with international investors, partners, and technology leaders, he said.
Nizam added that Pakistan's IT companies are also likely to attract investments, joint ventures, and collaborations with Qatar-based IT firms, along with export orders for IT services to Pakistan. He stressed the critical role of public-private partnerships in driving Pakistan's tech industry forward, encouraging Pakistani companies to seize global expansion opportunities.
Qatar remains a key export destination for Pakistani tech companies, as growing engagement is expected to unlock new business opportunities, investments, and knowledge-sharing in key technology sectors. Pakistan's total exports to Qatar stand at nearly $200 million, with the IT sector's share estimated at $10 million.
The Pakistan Pavilion was officially inaugurated by Pakistan's Ambassador to Qatar, Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Aamer, PSEB CEO Abu Bakar, and P@SHA SVC Umair Nizam, marking a significant milestone in strengthening Pakistan-Qatar technology ties.
Speaking at the inauguration, the ambassador highlighted the strength of Pakistan's IT sector and its potential for international collaborations. PSEB CEO Abu Bakar emphasised the government's unwavering support for IT exports and global partnerships, underscoring initiatives aimed at accelerating the industry's growth.
Dr Noman Said, an IT exporter, said Qatar is an emerging market for Pakistani companies after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with huge potential to explore new business avenues not only in the IT sector but across various industries requiring IT services.
Under the National Qatar Vision 2030, the Qatari government is working to promote the digital economy and governance systems, creating significant opportunities for Pakistani IT firms, he said.
He added that, beyond exports, Pakistani IT companies should attract investments from Qatari investors and capitalists with effective strategies and marketing campaigns.
Meanwhile, Web Summit Qatar 2025 has provided Pakistani IT firms with unparalleled networking and business opportunities, fostering valuable partnerships with international stakeholders. Pakistan's successful participation at the summit highlights its increasing role in the global tech ecosystem, paving the way for future cross-border collaborations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
EU seeks 'digital sovereignty'
The State Bank is working on a project to prevent digital frauds through deploying artificial intelligence. photo: file Listen to article At a market stall in Berlin run by charity Topio, volunteers help people who want to purge their phones of the influence of US tech firms. Since Donald Trump's inauguration, the queue for their services has grown. Interest in European-based digital services has jumped in recent months, data from digital market intelligence company Similarweb shows. More people are looking for e-mail, messaging and even search providers outside the United States. The first months of Trump's second presidency have shaken some Europeans' confidence in their long-time ally, after he signalled his country would step back from its role in Europe's security and then launched a trade war. "It's about the concentration of power in US firms," said Topio's founder Michael Wirths, as his colleague installed on a customer's phone a version of the Android operating system without hooks into the Google ecosystem.
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Russia offers stakes in its Nigeria oil, gas fields
Listen to article Russia has offered Pakistan stakes in its oil and gas fields in Nigeria, a move that will help secure energy supplies and ease pressure on foreign exchange. Russian energy giant Gazprom wants Pakistan's largest oil and gas explorer – Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) – to enter into joint ventures in its overseas oil and gas exploration projects. At present, Pakistan produces 15% of crude oil locally whereas remaining needs are met through expensive imports that build pressure on foreign exchange reserves. Earlier, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) tried to explore oil and gas in Iraq but that venture did not yield any result. Now, a Pakistani delegation, led by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, which is on a visit to Russia, has informed Moscow that Pakistan is interested in getting stakes in the fields that are already being developed to avoid risks. Ali Pervaiz Malik, who had replaced former petroleum minister Musadik Malik, was keen to address issues of oil and gas sectors. OGDCL Managing Director Ahmed Hayat Lak is also part of the delegation. Sources told The Express Tribune that the petroleum minister held a meeting with the chief executive officer of Gazprom, a Russian company responsible for overseas investment in oil and gas fields. During the meeting, the CEO of Gazprom offered Pakistan's petroleum minister to form joint ventures between OGDCL and Gazprom in those fields which were being operated by the Russian company outside Pakistan and Russia. At present, Gazprom is operating in different countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Nigeria. He informed the Pakistani side that OGDCL could enter into a joint venture with Gazprom in any field. Pakistani companies including OGDCL, Mari Petroleum, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL) had also formed a joint venture with a state-owned firm of the UAE in Dubai in an offshoring block. The UAE had offered a field to Pakistani companies, which had already been developed to avoid risks and was not a new block. Sources said that the Pakistani side informed the CEO of Gazprom that it was not interested in those blocks which had not been developed so far and wanted to follow the Dubai project model. Pakistan wants to get stakes in those fields which have already been developed by Gazprom. According to sources, Gazprom offered the petroleum minister to buy stakes in a developed hydrocarbon block in Nigeria, where no risk was involved. It proposed that Gazprom, a Nigerian state-owned company and OGDCL could become partners in that field. Sources said that the Russian company would now send a proposal to OGDCL for evaluation as it would be a pure commercial deal. The Pakistani side had already offered Russia to become part of OGDCL's bid for offshore drilling in Pakistan. Officials say a joint venture with Gazprom in Nigeria will also become a base for engaging the Russian company in offshore drilling in Pakistan. OGDCL and other Pakistani companies have already reached an understanding with a Turkish firm to offer a joint bid for an offshore exploration field in Pakistan. Officials say Pakistan is also looking towards the Russian firm to become its partner in this venture. Russia has been struggling to establish a firm footing in Pakistan's energy sector for the last one decade but it has not been able to achieve success. It was also working with Pakistan to build an LNG pipeline from Karachi to Lahore for transporting imported gas. However, US sanctions on Russian firms were a key hurdle, which could not allow implementation of the project. The structure of Pakistan Gas Stream Project was changed almost six times to avoid US sanctions but nothing could provide successful. Now, Gazprom has offered Pakistan to become a partner in oil and gas fields in Nigeria. Pakistan is hopeful that this joint venture could become successful.
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business Recorder
NIBAF, Risk Associates sign MoU
KARACHI: National Institute of Banking and Finance-Pakistan (NIBAF Pakistan) and Risk Associates have formalised a landmark partnership on Saturday through signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity and compliance readiness of the financial sector in Pakistan. The signing ceremony was held at the Risk Associates regional office in Karachi. The agreement was signed by Lubna Farooq Malik, Co-CEO of NIBAF-Pakistan and Dr Aftab Rizvi, CEO of Risk Associates, in the presence of senior leadership from both organisations. The MoU establishes a strategic framework through which both institutions will collaborate to develop and deliver advanced training programs, advisory services, and capacity-building initiatives focused on cyber risk, governance, digital forensics, and compliance with international standards including PCI DSS and ISO/ IEC 27001. Lubna Malik while emphasizing the critical significance of cyber risk for the financial industry observed that the financial industry stands at the forefront of profound digital transformation and, consequently, must also be at the very forefront of protecting itself. In this context, she highlighted that the collaboration between NIBAF and Risk Associates would benefit industry professionals, especially in the banking sector, by enhancing their cybersecurity skills and knowledge through capacity building. Dr Aftab Rizvi: 'Together with NIBAF-Pakistan, we are delivering forward-looking training that empowers banking professionals to anticipate, adapt, and respond to dynamic threats with operational precision and confidence.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
