February 11, 2025 – Saquib Ahmad, the Country Managing Director for SAP in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bahrain, emphasized that Pakistan has vast untapped potential in the IT sector, which could be leveraged to foster growth and global competitiveness. Speaking to the media on Monday, Ahmad highlighted the importance of specializing in IT skills and international branding to unlock the sector’s full capabilities. According to Ahmad, Pakistan must strengthen its digital infrastructure, attract international investment, and encourage innovation to create a robust and sustainable IT ecosystem.
Ahmad pointed out that Pakistan’s IT sector holds significant promise but requires focused attention on enhancing its global image. He suggested that for the sector to thrive internationally, Pakistan needs to establish a solid global branding strategy. This would facilitate smoother profit repatriation, improve data protection laws, and inspire more confidence among investors. He further emphasized that such efforts would enhance the nation’s competitiveness in the global market.
However, Ahmad also noted that both local and international IT companies, as well as freelancers, face significant challenges when operating in Pakistan. According to him, a lack of cooperation from local authorities is hindering progress. International players often have the option of shifting their operations to more favorable environments such as the Philippines or various African nations. Ahmad stressed that inconsistent policies in Pakistan could lead to long-term negative consequences for the country’s reputation as a destination for IT investment.
Despite these challenges, Ahmad acknowledged Pakistan’s positive strides in IT adoption, particularly the growing use of digital solutions across both public and private sectors. However, he warned that focusing only on raw numbers without taking the long-term transformation into account would not suffice. He pointed out that the country should aim for substantial progress, particularly in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and advanced analytics.
To support this vision, Ahmad stressed the need for a well-structured and long-term roadmap to guide Pakistan’s IT sector. He highlighted that government organizations have increasingly adopted enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, cloud technologies, and AI-driven analytics to improve operational efficiency. Still, he believes these efforts need to be accelerated by consistent and forward-looking policies.
One of the key initiatives Ahmad mentioned was talent development. He stressed that more collaborations between the IT industry and academic institutions are needed to ensure that graduates are equipped with skills in line with market demand. SAP, he noted, is already taking steps to bridge this gap by offering training programs, partnering with universities, and providing global exposure through internships, including opportunities in Silicon Valley.
Ahmad pointed out that emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are rapidly shaping global markets, and Pakistan must embrace these innovations to remain competitive. He called for increased investment in digital literacy and a better regulatory framework to support the evolving needs of the IT sector.
In terms of the public sector, Ahmad discussed the challenges of implementing IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) solutions within government agencies. These include resistance to change, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of skilled professionals. To address these challenges, Ahmad recommended that the government focus on investing in digital literacy, modernizing infrastructure, and strengthening public-private partnerships to accelerate the digital transformation.
As Pakistan continues to develop its IT sector, Ahmad’s remarks underline the importance of a strategic, collaborative approach to overcoming existing challenges. By prioritizing investment, policy consistency, and talent development, Pakistan has the potential to become a key player in the global IT industry.
With a forward-thinking approach and stronger collaboration between the government, industry, and academia, Pakistan can truly unlock the full potential of its IT sector, driving sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness.