ISLAMABAD: Islamabad will host the ‘first-ever’ Digital FDI Summit in Islamabad in April this year, the press information department said this week, as the country aims to boost foreign direct investment by promoting a digitally friendly business climate and increasing investor interest and activity in the country.
Pakistan this year became the first country to adopt the joint Digital Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Initiative by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). The project is structured around four pillars adopted from its Digital FDI framework, digital infrastructure, digital adoption, new digital activities and digital services exports – each targeting areas for growth considered essential for attracting sustained digital FDI in Pakistan.
Cash-strapped Pakistan, currently under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program and navigating a tricky path to recovery, is seeking to attract foreign investment in a bid to shore up its $350 billion economy. The South Asian nation narrowly avoided defaulting on its financial obligations in 2023 and 2024 with assistance from the IMF.
“Pakistan will host the first-ever Digital FDI Summit in Islamabad on April 29-30, 2025,” the press information department said in a statement after IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja addressed the Digital Cooperation Organization General Assembly in Amman, Jordan.
“This event will bring together global investors, policymakers, and technology leaders to explore Pakistan’s growing digital economy and investment opportunities.”
Khawaja extended a formal invitation to international stakeholders, urging them to participate in the “landmark event and collaborate on shaping the future of digital investment.”
“She also emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to digital transformation, positioning the country as a premier destination for foreign direct investment in the tech sector,” the statement added.
The digital FDI initiative, set to launch in April 2025, will be piloted in Pakistan and expanded globally to help countries develop policy frameworks and investment strategies for the digital economy.
Pakistan has seen 27 percent annual growth in the tech sector and recently introduced the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, a comprehensive framework designed to digitize the economy, governance, and society. In December, the government announced it would set up a National Digital Commission headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to oversee the development of digital infrastructure and launch a comprehensive five-year action plan to tackle digital challenges and promote technological investment in Pakistan.
“Khawaja underscored the government’s commitment to creating a digital-first economy, with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif personally leading the National Digital Commission to drive the initiative forward,” the statement added.
“A key component of this transformation is the development of Pakistan Stack, a national digital infrastructure aimed at establishing digital identities, streamlining governance, and fostering a secure, inclusive, and innovative digital ecosystem.”
