KARACHI: The Sindh government has pledged full support for equipping Pakistan’s emerging technology talent with advanced skills and creating an enabling environment for IT entrepreneurs and startups, as policymakers and industry leaders called for stronger collaboration to accelerate the country’s digital transformation.
Special Assistant to the Sindh Chief Minister for Science and Information Technology Ali Rashid made the commitment while addressing the Pakistan Edition of the World CIO 200 Summit & Awards 2026 as chief guest.
The daylong summit, organised by the Global CIO Forum in partnership with ITCN Asia at a Karachi hotel, brought together around 1,000 senior IT leaders, cybersecurity experts, entrepreneurs, innovators and corporate executives, including Pakistani-origin technology professionals working abroad.
Rashid said the strong participation demonstrated that Pakistan possesses a substantial pool of skilled and aspiring technology professionals capable of strengthening the country’s position in the global technology sector.
He said the Sindh government had launched IT education and training programmes for college and university students to help bridge the skills gap in advanced and emerging technology fields.
“Learning the latest IT skills is no longer an option; it has become essential for fresh talent entering Pakistan’s economic, financial and industrial workforce if we are to turn around the country’s economy,” Rashid said.
He stressed that university graduates must acquire contemporary technology skills to remain relevant as rapid technological advances reshape science, business, industry and the wider economy.
The CM’s special assistant said the provincial government was committed to providing young technology professionals with opportunities to acquire advanced skills while creating conditions that allow entrepreneurs and startups to innovate and build sustainable businesses.
He also invited IT professionals, entrepreneurs and technology leaders to work with the government on meaningful public-private partnerships aimed at accelerating technological development and supporting economic transformation.
“The doors of my office are always open to emerging technology talent and technology leadership in Pakistan,” Rashid said.
Tech Talent Can Shape Pakistan’s Digital Future
Syed Abdul Qadir, Executive Director at A.F. Ferguson (PwC Pakistan) and Global Advisor to the summit, said Pakistan’s technology professionals and emerging talent could become the “architects and brains” behind the country’s digital future.
He said Pakistan’s IT sector had reached a defining stage, with a large pool of emerging talent and increasingly sophisticated technology infrastructure capable of transforming the country’s digital ecosystem.
Qadir identified three major strengths — emerging talent, an aptitude for technological innovation and expanding technology infrastructure — that could help Pakistan secure a stronger position in the global technology economy if effectively combined and supported.
He said the summit could serve as a platform for connecting talent, leadership, innovation and technology while providing Pakistan’s IT community with greater international exposure.
Pakistan’s Tech Workforce Can Compete Globally
Dr. Erdal Ozkaya, President of the Global CISO Forum, said the participation of senior technology leaders alongside emerging professionals showed that Pakistan has a skilled workforce capable of competing internationally.
He said the World CIO platform would continue to recognise and nurture emerging Pakistani IT talent while providing professionals with opportunities to develop capabilities required in the international technology sector.
According to Ozkaya, the Karachi summit formed part of the World CIO 200 Roadshow 2026, a global initiative bringing together technology and business leaders across more than 60 countries.
He said such platforms could connect Pakistan’s technology community with the international ecosystem while showcasing the country’s talent, capabilities and innovation potential.
Karachi Has Potential to Become Regional IT Hub
Muhammad Umair Nizam, CEO of ITCN Asia, said Sindh, particularly Karachi, has the potential to develop into a major regional technology hub because of its expanding talent pool and technology infrastructure.
He called for closer cooperation between the government, private sector, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to build a more competitive IT ecosystem.
Nizam also urged universities to go beyond producing graduates and focus on developing innovators, startup founders, entrepreneurs and future technology leaders capable of creating globally competitive businesses and products.
Corporate Sector Urged to Invest in Technology Talent
Syed Amir Ali, CEO and President of Meezan Bank, called on Pakistan’s corporate sector to play a greater role in nurturing and training emerging technology professionals.
He said companies should provide young professionals with development opportunities and create an environment that encourages innovation.
Greater corporate investment in technology skills and talent, he said, could strengthen Pakistan’s innovation capacity and improve its position in the global technology landscape.
50 Technology Leaders Honoured
Around 50 senior technology and IT executives received the Tech Leader Excellence Award during the summit in recognition of their professional achievements and leadership in the sector.
The gathering brought CIOs, CISOs, cybersecurity specialists, technology executives, entrepreneurs, innovators and emerging professionals together to exchange ideas and explore potential collaboration.
Speakers at the summit broadly agreed that Pakistan has the human capital and technological potential to compete internationally. However, they stressed that translating this potential into sustained growth would require continued investment in advanced skills, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, backed by stronger cooperation among government, industry, academia and the technology community.