Deemah AlYahya, the Secretary-General of the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), announced on Tuesday that Pakistan’s upcoming presidency of the multilateral body is a key part of the country’s efforts to establish itself as a regional and global digital leader. AlYahya made these remarks during the ongoing Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) summit in Islamabad, co-hosted by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the DCO.
Founded in November 2020, the DCO aims to accelerate digital transformation and foster collaboration between its member states. Pakistan is set to assume the presidency in 2026, following Kuwait’s term in 2025. The organization’s founding members include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Pakistan, with Nigeria and Oman joining later.
AlYahya, who has been the DCO’s Secretary-General since April 2021, expressed optimism about Pakistan’s leadership role in digital transformation. “The presidency of Pakistan that is planned for 2026 is part of a continuous effort to position Pakistan as the digital powerhouse for the region and the globe,” she said in an exclusive interview with Arab News. She added that Pakistan’s leadership would not only benefit the country in terms of technological and infrastructure advancements but would also allow Pakistan to support the growth of other member countries.
The DCO’s work includes opening markets for businesses across member states and enabling smooth cross-border collaboration. AlYahya emphasized that Pakistan would play a key role in advancing this agenda. She also highlighted the growth of Pakistan’s digital sector and the potential it holds, noting the country’s competitive advantages in infrastructure, youth talent, and software and hardware advancements.
The DCO has been focused on identifying strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement in member countries, and AlYahya emphasized the importance of these insights in fostering collaboration and growth. She pointed to the Digital FDI event in Pakistan as an example of how the country’s strengths can attract the private sector and create opportunities in the IT sector.
Pakistan’s IT sector continues to show impressive growth. In FY2024, IT exports reached a record $3.2 billion, a 24% increase from the previous year, with the first half of FY2025 showing a further 28% year-on-year growth. With monthly exports averaging around $310 million, Pakistan is aiming to surpass $4 billion in IT exports by the end of FY2025, buoyed by an expanding client base, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
This growth trajectory reflects the country’s increasing competitiveness in the global digital economy, positioning Pakistan as a key player in the DCO’s future efforts.
