The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) hosted a high-profile HBL P@SHA CXO Meetup in Karachi on Friday, April 17, 2026, bringing together leading IT executives, policymakers, and government officials to discuss ways to boost Pakistan’s IT exports and support digital transformation.
Ali Rashid, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh on Information Technology, attended as chief guest. Speaking at the event, he said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has made Information Technology a key pillar of the province’s economic growth strategy.
“The provincial government considers the IT sector the backbone of our economic progress and will address industry challenges on a priority basis,” said Ali Rashid. He added that the government would fully benefit from P@SHA’s expertise for digitization and e-governance across provincial departments.
He further stated that Pakistan cannot compete globally without adopting modern technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), while ease of doing business for IT companies and freelancers remains central to the government’s digital agenda.
Faisal Jeddy, CEO of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), joined the meetup as keynote speaker and held consultations with industry leaders on export growth strategies. He announced that foreign companies are now eligible to open Roshan Digital Accounts (RDAs).
“We are developing a joint strategy with P@SHA to increase IT exports and attract global clients,” Jeddy said. He added that PSEB is expanding support for local software houses so they can compete internationally. Construction of IT parks and world-class working infrastructure, he noted, are among top priorities.
He also reaffirmed PSEB’s commitment to presenting the IT industry’s legitimate demands and recommendations to higher levels of government for policy action.
P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed stressed the importance of rapid technology adoption, saying Pakistan cannot remain competitive globally without AI and 5G infrastructure.
He added that the IT industry is ready to play its full advisory and technical role in supporting the government’s digital vision, including planned $1 billion AI projects. However, he said attracting foreign clients and investment requires a truly competitive business environment.
The Sindh Secretary of Information Technology said youth need modern skills and technology training aligned with global market demands instead of relying only on academic degrees.
Muhammad Umair Nizam, Senior Vice Chairman of P@SHA, highlighted the association’s achievements over the past 1.5 years, while Industry Engagement Co-Chair Munaf Majeed emphasized resolving IT sector issues through close coordination with the government.
Khushnood Aftab also stressed the need for speedy completion of Special Technology Zones (STZs) nationwide to accelerate the “Made-in-Pakistan” initiative.
