Pakistan Software Houses Association held its HBL PASHA CXO Meetup in Lahore on July 24, 2026, bringing together stakeholders from government and the technology sector for an evening centered on collaboration and industry networking. The event was supported by HBL as title sponsor, Viper Technology as gold sponsor, Kinverg as silver sponsor, and KryptoMind, ArhamSoft, and ITEL Services as bronze sponsors.
The meetup was attended by PASHA leadership, including Chairman Sajjad Syed, Vice Chairman Raheel Iqbal, Industry Engagement Committee Chair Abdul Wahab, Startup and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair Usman Akbar, Secretary General Ali Hasani, and Director of Brand and Global Outreach Kheezran Khan, alongside the broader PASHA Secretariat team. Guests included Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab on Artificial Intelligence and Special Initiatives Ali Dar, Pakistan Software Export Board Chief Executive Officer Faisal Jeddy, Ignite National Technology Fund Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Bilal Abbasi, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Director General Rafia Syed, and William Campbell, a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Department of State.
The evening opened with a welcome note from Abdul Wahab, followed by a keynote address from Sajjad Syed covering PASHA’s recent initiatives and milestones. Shaza Fatima Khawaja delivered the chief guest address, outlining the government’s vision for advancing Pakistan’s digital economy, while Ali Dar spoke as guest of honor on the Punjab government’s approach to artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital transformation. HBL’s Head of Emerging Business Remittances, Umar Zia Khan, addressed opportunities for financial collaboration, and Kinverg Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Ali Inayat spoke on behalf of sponsors about innovation and business growth across Pakistan’s technology sector.
A key highlight of the evening was the inauguration of the PASHA Startup Hub, led by Usman Akbar, marking a new addition to the association’s efforts to support Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. Raheel Iqbal delivered closing remarks reinforcing the importance of continued industry collaboration, and the event concluded with Sajjad Syed presenting commemorative shields to Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Ali Dar, Faisal Jeddy, Muhammad Bilal Abbasi, and William Campbell in recognition of their contributions to Pakistan’s IT industry. The Lahore meetup adds to PASHA’s continuing series of regional CXO gatherings aimed at strengthening ties between government, industry, and international stakeholders across Pakistan’s technology sector.
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