Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Pakistan will host Indus AI Week 2026 from February 9–15 to showcase national AI potential under the Digital Pakistan vision. The event will unite policymakers, tech firms, academia, and startups to promote real-world AI adoption across governance, industry, and innovation while attracting global investment.
A Chinese delegation from Leviathan Group met Pakistan’s IT minister to explore long-term partnerships and investment in the country’s technology sector. Citing Pakistan’s digital growth and skilled workforce, both sides agreed to pursue collaboration aligned with the government’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision.
UNESCO marked Pakistan’s 16 Days of Activism by confronting digital gender-based violence through advocacy, art, and youth engagement. From policy dialogue to the “Seen & Unseen” exhibition and digital safety campaigns, the initiative exposed online abuse, humanised its impact, and equipped women with tools for protection and digital literacy.
Pakistan’s NADRA has launched its first Bug Bounty Challenge to strengthen the country’s digital ID systems. Backed by universities and cyber agencies, the programme invites ethical hackers and students to identify vulnerabilities, embedding security-by-design into national infrastructure as biometric upgrades continue.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has warned that sharing illegal, hateful, defamatory, or false content online is a punishable offence under PECA 2016. The regulator urged responsible social media use, highlighting the risks to individuals and institutions, and reaffirmed its commitment to awareness campaigns that promote ethical digital behaviour and a secure online ecosystem.
Nearly 80 percent of mobile phones in Pakistan already support key 5G frequency bands, according to PTA sources, as the country prepares for its first 5G spectrum auction. The release of new spectrum is expected to boost 4G speeds and enable commercial 5G services in major cities within months.
PTA has warned users against sharing illegal online content, including blasphemy, hate speech, fake news, and obscene material, stressing such acts are punishable under law. The Authority also launched a facility enabling overseas Pakistanis to retain their SIM cards while abroad, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.
PTCL has submitted the Telenor Pakistan–Ufone merger to the telecom regulator, triggering a formal review of competition, spectrum, and consumer impact. PTA’s assessment is expected within two months, followed by SECP and court approvals. The deal aims to strengthen PTCL’s mobile business and reshape Pakistan’s telecom landscape.
Pakistan and the UAE agreed to deepen cooperation in investment, trade, and telecom, with PTCL and Etisalat’s future plans central to talks. Ishaq Dar pushed for early resolution of legacy issues to unlock UAE investment. Parallel diplomacy with Iran reinforced Pakistan’s regional engagement.
Government says Pakistan’s IT exports hit record monthly high in December
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s information technology exports surged to a record $437 million in December, crossing the $400 million mark for the first time on a monthly basis, Finance Adviser Khurram Schehzad said on Monday.
The milestone underscores the growing importance of the tech sector as Pakistan pivots toward export-led growth while emerging from a prolonged economic crisis that strained foreign exchange reserves, widened balance-of-payments pressures, and weakened the currency.
“December 2025 exports reached $437 million — crossing $400 million in a month for the first time ever,” Schehzad said in a post on X. He added that the figure represents 23 percent month-on-month growth from November and 26 percent year-on-year growth compared with December 2024.
For the first half of the current fiscal year, IT exports reached $2.24 billion, up 20 percent from a year earlier, making the sector the largest and most consistent contributor within services exports.
Pakistan is under pressure to rapidly expand exports as part of broader structural reforms under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Earlier this month, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the country must double exports to $60 billion within four years or risk returning to the IMF.
IT exports have been on a steady upward trajectory, reaching a record $3.8 billion in the 2024–25 financial year, according to official data. The momentum has continued into the current fiscal year, with 19 percent year-on-year growth recorded between July and November, when exports totalled $1.8 billion.
The government views the technology sector as a central pillar for foreign exchange earnings and job creation as Pakistan seeks to consolidate recent macroeconomic gains and attract new investment.