ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and several exhibitors taking part in the ongoing GITEX exhibition in Dubai praised the international tech show, saying that several lucrative agreements were signed by Pakistani IT companies during the five-day event. 
The annual Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) is considered one of the world’s largest tech shows, connecting industry leaders with major tech and innovation startups, as well as government officials, expert investors and corporate buyers. 
This year’s five-day exhibition commenced on Oct. 14 and will end on Oct. 18. The event holds particular significance for Pakistan as it aims to showcase its growing prowess in IT as it eyes lucrative markets in the Middle East.
“It is a great show for Pakistan as many MoUs, deals and agreements were signed and many new opportunities were given to Pakistani companies,” Tirmizi told Arab News.
When asked about the deals signed by Pakistani tech companies, Tirmizi said the exact number would be known when the event concludes on Friday. 
“This is the biggest trade show,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that 6000 companies from countries around the world were participating in the event.
“Pakistan was recognized as Tech Destination of the Year and we also had a Pakistan evening which was an official evening of GITEX 2024,” he said. 
Tirmizi said this exhibition provided the best opportunity for Pakistani companies to showcase their products, talent, manpower, and skills to the UAE, the region and even the world.
‘PAKISTAN’S SIGNIFICANT BRANDING’
Sajjad Mustafa Syed, the chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), described GITEX as a “game-changer” for Pakistan IT startups and companies. He said a total of 80 Pakistani companies are participating in the event. 
“The slogan of Tech Destination Pakistan was well received by the audience and several Pakistani companies signed multimillion-dollar contracts at the conference,” Syed told Arab News. 
Muhammad Zohaib Khan, the founder of A2Z Creatorz, a website and mobile app development company, said such exhibitions have tremendous potential, stressing the importance of networking with buyers in the IT sector. 
“There was significant branding of Pakistan as a tech destination at Gitex Dubai and many regional and global companies took interest in Pakistani companies where many deals have been signed,” Khan, who is an ex-chairman of P@SHA, told Arab News. 
Muhammad Ali Tahir, marketing manager of TMC (TallyMarks Consulting), a system integrator company, said his organization secured a powerful partnership on Wednesday with Obrela, a renowned global provider of cybersecurity services, under its subsidiary Integrians Cybersecurity Solutions (ICS).
“As the exclusive service provider for Obrela’s services in Pakistan, ICS will offer comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, building a fortress for businesses to innovate fearlessly,” Tahir told Arab News.
“By combining our expertise in enterprise business solutions with Obrela’s unstoppable cyber defense, we will ensure resilient protection every step of the way,” he added. 
Shahid Ismail, chief executive officer of Premier Cables, one of the leading manufacturers of fiber-optic cables, said this was the 15th consecutive year his company has participated in GITEX.
“We secured supply orders from Etisalat through this platform a few years ago and have been supplying them with fiber-optic cables ever since,” he told Arab News.
“So far, we have supplied them with up to 17,000 km of fiber-optic cables, and today at GITEX, we received a new order from Etisalat.”