Islamabad is set to host its inaugural Digital FDI Summit in April this year, aiming to attract foreign direct investment by fostering a digitally inclusive business environment and enhancing investor engagement, according to the press information department.
Pakistan has become the first country to implement the joint Digital Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Initiative introduced by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). This initiative is built on four key pillars – digital infrastructure, digital adoption, emerging digital activities, and digital services exports – each designed to drive growth and sustain digital FDI inflows.
Facing economic challenges and currently relying on a $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan is actively seeking foreign investments to support its $350 billion economy. The country narrowly avoided financial default in 2023 and 2024 with IMF assistance.
The press information department announced that the Digital FDI Summit will take place on April 29-30, 2025, in Islamabad. The event aims to bring together global investors, policymakers, and technology leaders to explore Pakistan’s expanding digital economy and investment prospects.
At the Digital Cooperation Organization General Assembly in Amman, Jordan, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja formally invited international stakeholders to participate in this milestone event and collaborate on shaping the digital investment landscape. She reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to digital transformation and positioning itself as a leading destination for tech-sector foreign direct investment.
Scheduled to launch in April 2025, the digital FDI initiative will first be piloted in Pakistan before expanding globally. It aims to help nations develop investment strategies and policy frameworks to advance their digital economies.
Pakistan’s tech sector has recorded a 27% annual growth rate, and the government recently introduced the Digital Nation Pakistan Act to drive digital transformation in governance, the economy, and society. In December, the government established the National Digital Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to oversee digital infrastructure development and implement a five-year strategic plan to address technological challenges and boost digital investment.
Minister Khawaja emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing a digital economy, highlighting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership of the National Digital Commission to accelerate digital progress. A key initiative in this transformation is the development of Pakistan Stack, a national digital infrastructure designed to facilitate digital identity creation, enhance governance efficiency, and promote a secure, inclusive, and innovative digital ecosystem.
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