Pakistan and Qatar are embracing collaborative efforts in the field of bilateral IT.

In Doha, Dr. Umar Saif, the Caretaker Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication, arrived for a five-day official visit to Qatar, leading the inaugural Pakistan IT delegation to the country. This marks the first-ever visit of an IT delegation from Pakistan to Qatar, comprising the top 30 IT companies from Pakistan. The objective of this visit is to uncover the significant untapped potential in the region and attract investment opportunities for Pakistan’s IT sector.

The Pakistan Qatar IT Conference, inaugurated by Minister Umar Saif, commenced at the JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, with participation from Pakistani IT firms alongside local Qatari businesses.

Addressing the conference, Dr. Umar Saif expressed confidence that Pakistan’s IT companies could serve as valuable partners in Qatar’s global business expansion, highlighting Pakistan’s readiness to meet Qatar’s expanding IT needs. He envisions a future where Pakistan will showcase 300 IT firms, a significant increase from the current 30 participating companies.

Emphasizing the historic nature of this visit and its aim to tap into the untapped potential of the region and bolster Pakistan’s IT exports, he mentioned its significance in preparing for substantial participation in the upcoming web summit in Qatar.

Yousaf Muhammad Al Jaida, CEO of Qatar Financial Center (QFC), praised Pakistan’s IT talent, acknowledging its impact on the global IT landscape, and expressed optimism that the conference would open new avenues for IT collaboration between Pakistan and Qatar.

Dr. Umar Saif engaged in Business-to-Business (B2B) and Government-to-Business (G2B) meetings on the sidelines of the IT conference to explore potential collaborations between Pakistani IT companies and their Qatari counterparts.

Highlighting Pakistan as the emerging digital hub of the region, the Minister encouraged investments in Pakistani startups, foreseeing the country producing the next billion-dollar unicorn.

Notably, earlier this month, Dr. Umar Saif unveiled Pakistan’s inaugural IT and ITeS Export strategy, aiming to boost Pakistan’s exports to approximately $10 billion in the next three years.