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.
American computer hard disk drive manufacturer extends data storage outreach in Pakistan
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American computer hard disk drive manufacturer extends data storage outreach in Pakistan
- Western Digital officials indicate they may set up a small-scale manufacturing facility in the country
- The company will also establish outlets, provide aftersales service, and hire a significant number of people in the coming days
Pakistan military says 12 militants killed in counter-terror operations in southwest
- Pakistan military says “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed in southwestern Kalat district on Dec. 6
- Development takes place day after military said it gunned down five militants in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti area
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed 12 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” in the southwestern Balochistan province, the military’s media wing said on Sunday, vowing to purge “terrorism” from the country.
The security operation was carried out in Balochistan’s Kalat district on Dec. 6, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement. It said the militants belonged to Indian proxy “Fitna al Hindustan.”
The military uses this term to describe ethnic Baloch militant groups who demand independence from Pakistan. Islamabad accuses New Delhi of arming and funding these separatist groups, charges India has always denied.
“Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area,” the ISPR said.
The military said that it was carrying out sanitization operations in the area to eliminate other “terrorists,” vowing it will continue with its relentless counter-terror campaign to purge militancy.
The development took place a day after the Pakistan military said it had gunned down 14 militants in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by since yet its most backward by almost all social and economic indicators, has suffered from a bloody separatist insurgency for decades.
The most ethnic Baloch militant group that has mounted attacks against law enforcement and civilians in the area is the Balochistan Liberation Army.
These militant outfits accuse the military and federal government of denying the local Baloch population a share in the province’s mineral wealth, charges Islamabad denies.
