Syed Junaid Ahmad, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SOFTOO, has announced his candidacy for a seat on the PASHA Central Executive Committee for the 2026 to 2028 term. Ahmad brings more than twenty years of experience as an IT leader, entrepreneur and artificial intelligence strategist, and has framed his candidacy around delivering a stronger secretariat, a louder brand for the industry, a fairer policy voice, and preparation for a future ready technology sector.
His manifesto opens with a commitment to make PASHA the custodian of Pakistan’s technology brand both domestically and internationally, arguing that perception drives business deals and that as the country’s tech brand strengthens, member export opportunities rise alongside it. His second point focuses on member services, proposing to strengthen the secretariat so that it responds the way the businesses it serves actually run, backed by a biannual member satisfaction scorecard intended to track whether that responsiveness is actually being delivered. On tax and policy matters, he wants to press the remote worker taxation case through to full resolution, turning past advocacy wins into protections that member companies can rely on with confidence.
Read: PASHA CEC Elections 2026: Every Candidate Contesting
The remaining two points of his platform address startup support and organizational finances. Ahmad wants to convert the existing Startup Connect directory into a fully realized national platform, paired with practical guidance, reskilling support and advocacy aimed at helping IT and software services firms adapt to disruption from artificial intelligence and move up the value chain rather than being displaced by it. His final commitment centers on diversifying PASHA’s finances beyond dependence on a single sponsor, arguing that programs such as the PASHA ICT Awards and the association’s international commitments need to rest on confirmed funding rather than uncertain expectations.
Ahmad’s candidacy comes as PASHA members prepare to vote on September 17, 2026, for the ten open seats of the Central Executive Committee, with two additional reserved seats for women entrepreneurs to be filled the following day by the newly elected committee. Based on the Election Commission’s regional structure, voting is expected to be coordinated across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi, where PASHA maintains its secretariat and regional offices. Voting will take place through secret ballot between 9 am and 5 pm, with original CNIC or passport required for identity verification at polling stations. The complete final voters list for the 2026 elections is available on the PASHA final voter list, and more information about Ahmad’s professional background can be found on his LinkedIn profile.
Computerworld is profiling every candidate contesting the 2026 PASHA CEC elections. View the manifestos and candidate profiles here on CWPK. Profiles are drawn from published campaign material by PASHA Election Commission. Public manifestos for all CEC contestants can be found here.
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