Pakistan’s UAE envoy, exhibitors praise GITEX Dubai as ‘great show’ for tech firms

Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s Envoy in UAE speaks during a meeting at the Dubai World Trade Center to review the performance of Pakistani exhibitors participating in GITEX Global 2024 in Dubai on October 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy: X/@PakinUAE_)
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Updated 17 October 2024
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Pakistan’s UAE envoy, exhibitors praise GITEX Dubai as ‘great show’ for tech firms

  • Eighty Pakistani IT, tech firms are taking part in GITEX in Dubai, considered one of the biggest tech exhibitions worldwide
  • Pakistani exhibitors praise encouraging response received at GITEX 2024, stress importance of global networking in IT sector 

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.”


Pakistan’s deputy PM speaks with Iran, Türkiye after UN rights vote on Tehran

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Pakistan’s deputy PM speaks with Iran, Türkiye after UN rights vote on Tehran

  • Pakistan voted against UN rights council resolution seeking to expand scrutiny of Iran
  • Dar discusses regional issues with Türkiye’s Hakan Fidan after World Economic Forum

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held separate phone calls on Saturday with the foreign ministers of Iran and Türkiye, highlighting Islamabad’s growing diplomatic engagement on regional crises after backing Tehran at the United Nations Human Rights Council and amid wider discussions on Middle East stability.

Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, spoke with Iran’s Seyed Abbas Araghchi after Islamabad voted against a resolution at the UN rights council in Geneva that sought to expand international scrutiny of Iran following a crackdown on anti-government protests that began last month and continued for several days.

“Foreign Minister Araghchi thanked DPM / FM for his strong support and Pakistan’s position at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva,” the foreign office said in a statement after the phone call.

While the resolution was adopted, Iran rejected it as “politicized” and described the council’s action as interference in its internal affairs.

Dar later spoke by phone with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, with the two leaders reviewing developments following the World Economic Forum in Davos and agreeing to remain in close contact on key regional and international matters, the foreign office said.

Pakistan and Türkiye have increasingly coordinated diplomatic positions on regional issues, including Middle East tensions, as Islamabad positions itself as an active interlocutor in multilateral forums addressing conflict and humanitarian crises.

Iran’s foreign minister also conveyed appreciation to Pakistan’s prime minister, government and people for what he described as Islamabad’s principled stance, the statement added.