2 days Ago
As Labour Day approaches, it is worth reflecting on the future of the millions of young Pakistanis who will soon come of age and enter the workforce. In that context, it is timely that just days before Labour Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s ambition to become a major global tech destination during his address at the Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum in Islamabad. At the conference, over $700 million in foreign investment was pledged to Pakistan’s IT sector, with more than 75 foreign investors and CEOs from over 50 global companies in attendance.
One of the most promising outcomes of the forum was the signing of an agreement between Pakistan and Huawei—one of the world’s largest tech firms—to train 200 young Pakistanis through joint skill development programmes, equipping them with the tools to thrive in the digital economy. This is a significant step forward. Pakistan must now look to the examples of its Asian neighbours—Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand—who have successfully transformed their youthful populations into engines of growth by investing in tech skills, integrating into the global digital economy, and generating jobs and remittances through online work and outsourcing.
Forgotten Gaza This is particularly crucial for Pakistan, whose export economy remains underdeveloped. While March saw a record-breaking $4.1 billion in foreign remittances, the country still needs to build diverse, sustainable income streams.
Investing in information technology, vocational training, and future-ready skills is not only strategic—it is essential. It signals a shift from survival to innovation, from dependence to participation in the global knowledge economy. If these initiatives are pursued with consistency and seriousness, they could mark the beginning of a long-overdue transformation.
The government’s recent steps suggest an intent not just to take part in the digital economy, but to shape it. What matters now is follow-through—and the political will to build on this foundation. Tags: digital future.
