American computer hard disk drive manufacturer extends data storage outreach in Pakistan

KARACHI: Western Digital Corporation, an American manufacturer of computer hard disk drive and data storage company, on Wednesday announced its decision to expand its footprint in Pakistan by mentioning the possibility of setting up a manufacturing facility in the country.
“We have seen the potential in the Pakistani market and are excited to see that consumer trust already exists in our products. We aim to uphold and further strengthen our bond with our customers and, in due time, bring more innovative products to Pakistan,” Khwaja Saifuddin, the company’s senior sales director for the Middle East and Pakistan, said at an event arranged by his organization in Karachi.
In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed a significant growth in the number of broadband internet users -- a fact that has enticed global IT companies seeking to enhance their business outreach in the region.
Pakistan has attracted around $8 million of foreign investment in its IT sector in July and August. It also experienced an inflow of $41 million in the previous financial year (FY20), according to the State Bank of Pakistan records.
Saifuddin said a small-scale manufacturing facility could be set up in Pakistan, though he added that this would be a demand-driven initiative.
While the Western Digital officials refrained from quoting a future investment figure, they noted that their company was likely to set up stores, provide aftersales services, hire a significant number of people, and arrange for their training. “The essence behind this is to help our consumers capture, preserve, access and transform data with complete peace of mind,” Saifuddin added.
Western Digital’s product line includes SanDisk mobile storage solutions portfolio, with storage devices such as the iXpand flash drive, SanDisk Ultra dual drive, and microSD and SD cards.
“With such a diverse portfolio, Western Digital strives to deliver a complete experience to its Pakistani customers through its efficient aftersales services,” the company said in a statement, adding that it also intended to expand its existing product range in Pakistan.
With 169 cellphone subscribers and over 86 million mobile broadband users, Pakistan offers an attractive market to IT companies providing software and hardware solutions.