Pakistan is positioning itself as a major tech hub, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing a $700 million IT investment and urging global investors to capitalize on the country's digital growth.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s goal of becoming a global leader in technology, as he announced that the country is ready to leverage its digital infrastructure and vast talent pool to attract international investment. Speaking at the inaugural Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) conference in Islamabad, Sharif invited global investors to explore the growing opportunities in Pakistan’s IT sector.
The DFDI conference, the first of its kind in Pakistan, saw the participation of delegates from 45 countries and more than 75 foreign investors, including CEOs of over 50 global companies. Sharif highlighted the government's efforts in creating an enabling environment for IT investment, citing the establishment of IT parks, incubation centers, and a research and development ecosystem across federal and provincial levels.
“We are not just waiting for the future, we are shaping it,” said Sharif, emphasizing the country’s readiness to lead the global digital economy.
With over 60% of Pakistan’s population under 30, Sharif stressed that the country's youth are its most valuable asset. To further enhance skills, Huawei has partnered with the government to train 200,000 young Pakistanis in digital skills through a joint development program.
“Pakistan’s youth – over 100 million strong – is our greatest digital asset,” said Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of IT and Telecommunication, who also spoke at the conference. “Under the prime minister’s supervision, we have trained over 300,000 young professionals this year alone.”
Pakistan’s IT exports are on track to surpass $4 billion this year, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation. With the country’s expanding broadband network, 65% smartphone penetration, and increasing foreign remittances, Sharif believes the digital economy is poised for rapid growth.
“We’re not just building a digital economy; we’re creating a digital Pakistan,” the prime minister said, inviting global investors to join the country's journey toward a tech-driven future.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House in a historic meeting, claiming credit for stopping the recent India-Pakistan conflict, though India denied any U.S. mediation.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firmly denied claims that the United States played any role in mediating the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, according to India's top diplomat.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Pakistan is increasing its defense budget by nearly 20%.
Pakistan’s 2025-26 federal budget cuts overall spending by 7% but raises defence expenditure by 20% amid recent conflict with India, aiming to balance economic growth with increased military costs.
Denmark announced it will continue backing Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership despite Hungary’s ongoing blockade, as it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Council on July 1.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, urged the Israeli government to immediately stop its attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites during a press conference at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has underscored the urgent need to ramp up international pressure on Russia following Moscow’s defense of the Iranian regime.
On June 19, the official opening ceremony of the “Azerbaijan” residential complex, constructed by Azerbaijan in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş, was held. The event was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has alleged that Meta Platforms offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million to OpenAI employees in an attempt to recruit top talent, underscoring the intensifying competition among tech firms for artificial intelligence expertise.
The Trump Organization has unveiled "Trump Mobile," a $499 smartphone and wireless service aimed at conservative consumers, marking its entry into the highly competitive telecom market.
Scientists at the South China University of Technology have engineered a new ceramic material that pushes the boundaries of heat resistance, a development with major implications for hypersonic flight, rocket engines, and energy production.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has announced a landmark shift in its electoral process, declaring that the general elections scheduled for mid-2026 will be conducted using a fully digital system.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has announced Finland's ambition to host a European AI gigafactory. The move aims to boost national growth by building on the success of the LUMI supercomputer, with telecommunications giant Nokia poised to lead the project's business consortium.
Denmark announced it will continue backing Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership despite Hungary’s ongoing blockade, as it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Council on July 1.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, urged the Israeli government to immediately stop its attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites during a press conference at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has underscored the urgent need to ramp up international pressure on Russia following Moscow’s defense of the Iranian regime.
On June 19, the official opening ceremony of the “Azerbaijan” residential complex, constructed by Azerbaijan in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş, was held. The event was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment