KARACHI: The Sindh government has pledged its fullest support for equipping Pakistan’s emerging technology talent with the latest skills and creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs and startups in the information technology sector, with the objective of helping the country secure a leading position in the rapidly unfolding global technology revolution.
Special Assistant to the Sindh Chief Minister for Science and Information Technology Ali Rashid made the commitment while addressing the Pakistan Edition of the World CIO 200 Summit & Awards 2026 as chief guest, where he called for a stronger partnership among government, the private sector and technology leadership to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation and contribute to the country’s economic turnaround.
The daylong summit, organized by the Global CIO Forum in partnership with ITCN Asia at a Karachi hotel, brought together around 1,000 senior IT leaders, cybersecurity experts, technology entrepreneurs, innovators and corporate executives from Pakistan, along with Pakistani-origin technology professionals working abroad.
Addressing an audience representing the country’s technology leadership and emerging digital talent, Rashid said the massive turnout at the summit was itself evidence that Pakistan possessed a substantial pool of skilled and aspiring technology professionals capable of improving the country’s standing in the global technology arena.
He said the Sindh government had launched information technology education and training programs for college and university students to help bridge the growing talent gap in advanced and emerging technology fields.
“Learning the latest IT skills is no longer an option; it has become essential for fresh talent entering Pakistan’s economic, financial and industrial workforce if we are to turn around the country’s economy,” Rashid said.
He stressed that university graduates needed to acquire contemporary technology skills to remain relevant to rapid technological advances taking place across virtually every field of science, business and the economy.
The CM’s Special Assistant said the Sindh government was committed to providing emerging technology talent with opportunities to acquire advanced skills while simultaneously creating conditions in which technology entrepreneurs could develop, innovate and build sustainable businesses.
He invited technology professionals, entrepreneurs and IT leaders to engage with the government in developing meaningful public-private partnerships aimed at accelerating the country’s technology revolution.
“The doors of my office are always open to emerging technology talent and technology leadership in Pakistan,” Rashid said, emphasizing the need for government, the private sector and the IT industry to work together to accelerate the pace of technological development and support national economic transformation.
‘Talent can become architects of Pakistan’s digital future’
In his keynote address, Syed Abdul Qadir, Executive Director at A.F. Ferguson (PwC Pakistan) and Global Advisor to the summit, said the technology professionals and emerging talent assembled at the event could become the “architects and brains” behind Pakistan’s digital and technological future.
He said Pakistan’s IT landscape had reached a defining moment, with the country possessing both a large pool of emerging talent and increasingly sophisticated technological infrastructure that could fundamentally transform its technology ecosystem.
Qadir said Pakistan was gifted with a highly talented, motivated and dedicated workforce and that combining this human capital with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure could enable the country to emerge as a leading participant in the rapidly evolving global IT revolution.
He identified three critical ingredients already available to Pakistan—massive emerging talent, a natural aptitude for technological innovation and technology infrastructure—which, if effectively combined and supported, could revolutionize the country’s IT landscape and enable Pakistan to secure a distinctive position in the global technology economy.
He said the Global CIO Summit, with the participation of hundreds of IT, technology and cybersecurity experts, entrepreneurs and innovators from Pakistan and abroad, could serve as an enabling platform for connecting talent, leadership, innovation and technology and helping Pakistan move toward center stage in the global IT revolution.
Pakistan’s tech workforce can compete globally
Dr. Erdal Ozkaya, President of the Global CISO Forum, said the diverse audience comprising senior IT and technology leaders alongside emerging talent demonstrated that Pakistan possessed a highly skilled and talented technology workforce capable of competing with professionals from developed countries leading the global digital and technology transformation.
He said the World CIO Summit would continue to recognize, honor, reward, appreciate and nurture Pakistan’s emerging IT talent and provide them with opportunities to develop the capabilities needed to secure a distinguished position on the global technology stage.
Ozkaya said the Karachi event was part of the World CIO 200 Roadshow 2026, a global initiative bringing together technology and business leaders across more than 60 countries.
He said such platforms were particularly important for connecting Pakistan’s technology community with the wider international ecosystem and showcasing the country’s technology capabilities, talent and innovation potential to the world.
Karachi can emerge as regional IT hub
Muhammad Umair Nizam, CEO of ITCN Asia, said Sindh—and particularly Karachi—with its large pool of emerging technology talent and modern technology infrastructure had the potential to develop into a major hub of the regional IT revolution.
He emphasized that the government needed to work closely with the private sector, technology entrepreneurs and industry leaders to transform Pakistan’s IT landscape and build a stronger, more competitive technology ecosystem.
Nizam said Pakistan’s universities also had a critical role to play in preparing the next generation of technology leaders.
He called for universities to focus not only on producing graduates but also on developing innovators, startup founders, entrepreneurs and future technology leaders capable of creating globally competitive products and businesses.
Corporate sector urged to invest in tech talent
Syed Amir Ali, CEO and President of Meezan Bank, urged Pakistan’s corporate sector to play a more active role in supporting, nurturing and training the country’s emerging technology talent.
He said corporate institutions should fully back young technology professionals, provide them with opportunities for professional development and help create an environment conducive to innovation.
He emphasized that greater corporate investment in technology talent could enable Pakistan to accelerate innovation and secure a more distinguished position in the global technology landscape.
50 technology leaders honored
The summit also recognized the contributions of Pakistan’s senior technology leadership, with around 50 senior technology and IT executives receiving the Tech Leader Excellence Award in recognition of their professional achievements and leadership in the technology sector.
The gathering provided a rare platform for senior CIOs, CISOs, technology executives, cybersecurity specialists, entrepreneurs, innovators and emerging IT talent to interact under one roof, exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The speakers collectively stressed that Pakistan’s technological future would depend on effectively connecting its expanding pool of young talent with advanced skills, modern infrastructure, entrepreneurial opportunities, corporate support and progressive government policies.
The summit underscored a growing consensus across Pakistan’s technology ecosystem that the country possesses the human capital and technological potential required to compete internationally—but that converting this potential into global leadership will require sustained investment in skills, innovation, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and strong collaboration among government, industry, academia and the technology community.
rafiq@biztoday.news
