Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that Pakistan is developing a national digital stack that, along with its young workforce and expanding digital infrastructure, can speed up the country’s digital transformation.
Speaking at the Leading Edge Advancement and Progress (LEAP) 2026 conference in Riyadh, Khawaja said that these developments had positioned Pakistan as one of the region’s most attractive destinations for investment.
Addressing a session titled “How We Built a Digital Nation”, she outlined Pakistan’s digital transformation and formally inaugurated the Tech Destination Pakistan Pavilion.
“These steps have positioned the country as one of the region’s most attractive investment destinations,” the minister said.
Khawaja said that Pakistan had laid the legal foundation for its digital transformation through the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, which established the National Digital Commission and Pakistan Digital Authority to oversee the process.
She added that the government had also focused on connectivity and competitiveness through measures including one of the country’s largest spectrum auctions, the establishment of special technology zones and lower taxes for the IT sector.
The minister added that the government’s approach to digital growth focused on innovation, partnerships and investment, adding that strong policymaking and institutions could create an environment where the private sector leads growth.
Khawaja also stressed the need for a central digital agency to turn policies into implementation. She said that discipline and measurable key performance indicators were needed to keep large-scale digital projects focused.
She added that the government should focus on building core digital infrastructure that allows private companies to develop new products and services, saying that digital progress depends on partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Khawaja also reaffirmed Pakistan’s plans to strengthen its digital partnership with Saudi Arabia. She emphasised that cooperation in digital innovation, capacity building and emerging technologies could create new opportunities for both countries.
Earlier, Khawaja inaugurated the Tech Destination Pakistan Pavilion, which brought together 25 startups and 50 Pakistani technology companies showcasing products and solutions in artificial intelligence, automation and other digital technologies.
Pakistan’s participation at LEAP 2026 is aimed at developing business-to-business partnerships, attracting foreign investment, expanding international market access for Pakistani technology companies and increasing technology exports.
