Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a $ 700 million landmark in digital foreign direct investment (DFDI), which aimed to unlock the potential of Pakistan’s youth and place the country as a leader in the global digital economy.

When we spoke at the inauguration of the two-day digital foreign investment forum in Islamabad on Tuesday, the Prime Minister expressed optimism that the promised investments will accelerate Pakistan’s progress in information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI).

“Pakistan will appear as a leading strength in the IT sector,” he declared, inviting international investors to exploit the country’s huge talent pool and digital infrastructure.

The prime minister said that Pakistan’s youth, both at home and abroad, demonstrates extraordinary talent and energy in digital innovation. He emphasized the government’s obligation to build the park, incubation centers and a robust training ecosystem.

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

In a broader context of financial performance, the prime minister emphasized that transfers reached a historic highlight of $ 4.1 billion in March, reflecting strong overseas commitment and financial confidence in the country’s direction.

Minister of Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja detailed the latest progress in the sector, including a 25% increase in IT exports during the first nine months of the current financial year.

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

Khawaja also noted significant growth in the mobile manufacturing sector, where local production waves 48% in the past year and more than 31 million units now produced annually.

She credited the government’s digital first policy of rapid digitization across public departments and repeated her vision for a “digital economy, digital governance and digital society.”