$700m digital investment to empower Pakistani youth: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a landmark commitment of $700 million in Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI), aimed at unlocking the potential of Pakistan’s youth and positioning the country as a leader in the global digital economy.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum in Islamabad on Tuesday, the Prime Minister expressed optimism that the pledged investments will accelerate Pakistan’s progress in the fields of Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“Pakistan will emerge as a leading force in the IT sector,” he declared, inviting international investors to capitalise on the country’s vast talent pool and digital infrastructure.

The PM stated that the youth of Pakistan, both at home and abroad, are demonstrating exceptional talent and energy in digital innovation. He underscored the government's commitment to building IT parks, incubation centers, and a robust training ecosystem.

A key initiative includes a new partnership with Chinese tech giant Huawei to provide annual skills training to 200,000 young Pakistanis.

In a broader context of economic performance, the PM highlighted that remittances reached a historic high of $4.1 billion in March, reflecting strong overseas engagement and financial trust in the country’s direction.

Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja detailed recent strides in the sector, including a 25% increase in IT exports during the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

She also revealed ongoing efforts to develop a comprehensive national AI policy and highlighted the government’s push toward a cashless, inclusive economy through advanced digital public infrastructure.

Khawaja further noted significant growth in the mobile manufacturing sector, with local production surging 48% in the past year and more than 31 million devices now produced annually.

She credited the government's digital-first policies for rapid digitization across public departments and reiterated its vision for a “digital economy, digital governance, and digital society.”