Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Dr Umar Saif, emphasized Pakistan’s status as an emerging digital hub in the region during the Pak-Qatar IT Conference in Doha. He noted the presence of 30,000 IT companies and the graduation of over 75,000 IT students annually in Pakistan.
Addressing the conference, Dr Saif highlighted the significant Pakistani knowledge worker community in Qatar and urged local IT companies to tap into this resourceful diaspora for market expansion.
The collaborative Pak-Qatar IT Conference, organized by Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecom, the embassy of Pakistan in Qatar, and Pakistan-Qatar Business Council with support from the Qatar Financial Centre, featured speakers from public and private sectors, along with IT company representatives.
Dr Saif showcased Pakistan’s talent pool and success stories in innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the potential for Pakistani businesses to provide technological solutions and collaborate with Qatar, especially in areas like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Proposing a common, secure platform for professionals from both nations to share knowledge, expertise, and technological advancements, he expressed the belief that such collaboration could elevate the tech ecosystems of both countries.
Highlighting Qatar’s vision for expanding its knowledge economy, Dr Saif outlined the potential for Pakistani businesses not only to offer tech solutions but also to engage in global ventures. He acknowledged Qatar’s strides in establishing data centers, including the partnership with Microsoft Azure Cloud, and highlighted Pakistan’s capabilities in cloud management, data center operations, and cloud applications.
