The National Center in Big Data and Cloud Computing (NCBC) is set to host the 3rd International Annual Workshop on Big Data and Cloud Computing on the 14th and 15th of April, 2025. One of the central events of this workshop will be a high-profile panel discussion titled “Data-Driven Economies: Harnessing Big Data for Sustainable Growth and Industrialization”. The session is scheduled to take place on April 14, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Asma M. Hashmi STEM Centre, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
This panel brings together an impressive lineup of professionals and experts from academia, government, banking, and the tech industry to discuss how nations like Pakistan can effectively leverage big data technologies to drive economic development and industrial innovation. The discussion is expected to delve deep into the strategic value of data analytics, cloud-based solutions, and artificial intelligence in creating scalable and efficient systems across sectors.
Among the panelists is Dr. Naveed Arshad, Director of the NCBC Center Secretariat, who has been a key figure in advancing data science initiatives in Pakistan. He will be joined by Mr. Khurram Rahat, a National Steering Committee member and seasoned tech entrepreneur with experience as a founder, CEO, and senior consultant. Representing the financial sector, Mr. Shoukat Bizinjo, Additional Director at SBP, and Mr. Jawad Raza, Executive Vice President and Head of Data Analytics, Big Data, and AI at Meezan Bank, will offer perspectives on how the banking industry is adapting to data-driven practices. From the business and technology consulting world, Mr. Imran Moinuddin, Senior Vice President at Venture Drive Solutions, will contribute insights into the private sector’s evolving data infrastructure. Adding a policy lens to the conversation, Dr. Tahir Zaidi, Thematic Expert at the National Compliance Centre, Ministry of Commerce, will highlight regulatory and compliance aspects linked to digital transformation.
The session will be moderated by two respected voices in the cybersecurity and academic space—Ms. Faiza, Vice President and Deputy Head of Application Security at NBP, and Dr. Faizan, Associate Professor at NEDUET. Their combined experience is expected to steer the dialogue toward both practical implementation and theoretical underpinnings of data-driven governance and industrialization. The event is part of the NCBC’s larger mission to foster academic and industry collaboration in emerging fields like big data, AI, and cloud computing, and is supported by HEC of Pakistan. LUMS is also among the key partner institutions driving this annual initiative, further underlining the academic heft behind the conference.
With rapid digital transformation shaping economies worldwide, this workshop—and particularly the panel discussion—comes at a pivotal moment for Pakistan’s tech ecosystem. It is expected to generate meaningful discourse and policy suggestions on how to unlock the transformative power of big data for national development, while also showcasing the leadership and technical capability growing within the country.
