DFDI Forum 2025 puts Pakistan at the forefront of global digital investment

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Updated 22 April 2025
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DFDI Forum 2025 puts Pakistan at the forefront of global digital investment

In a bold move, placing Pakistan at the forefront of the global digital economy, the country has become the first in the world to roll out the Digital Foreign Direct Investment Initiative. Backed by the government of Pakistan and the Digital Cooperation Organization, this transformative launch is set to redefine how digital investment flows into emerging markets and who gets to shape the digital future.

With a vision built on innovation, inclusion, and international collaboration, the DFDI Initiative is unlocking new pathways to sustainable economic growth. It marks a turning point for Pakistan, not just as a participant, but as a regional trailblazer in digital transformation. As the 2026 DCO presidency looms, Pakistan is strategically positioning itself as a leader in the digital economy, poised to drive global conversations, partnerships, and innovations that will shape the future of digital investment.

Islamabad aims high: From capital city to ‘Davos of Digital FDI’

Islamabad is not just hosting the DFDI Forum 2025 — it is making a global statement. Poised to become the “Davos of Digital Foreign Direct Investment,” the city is opening its doors to tech visionaries, policymakers, and investors from 16 DCO member countries and beyond.

This is not business as usual. The forum is more than a conference — it is a launchpad for ideas, capital, and cross-border partnerships that will define the digital decade. Expect bold conversations, high-impact networking, and game-changing opportunities, all under one roof, in the heart of Pakistan’s capital.

A blueprint for digital growth: Pakistan’s DEP framework

At the core of this transformation is the Digital FDI-Enabling Policy, a comprehensive framework that lays the foundation for fast-tracked digital development across Pakistan and other emerging economies.

Designed for scale, agility, and investor confidence, the DEP focuses on four high-impact pillars:

●     Building infrastructure: Investing in next-gen digital connectivity

●     Accelerating adoption: Helping industries go digital, faster

●     Fueling innovation: Backing cutting-edge tech solutions and startups

●     Expanding digital exports: Scaling Pakistan’s booming IT and service sectors

These pillars work in unison to create a vibrant, investment-ready ecosystem where international capital meets local talent to spark exponential growth. This is not just a plan— it is Pakistan’s digital future, written with intention.

Why the world Is watching Pakistan’s digital ascent

The signals are clear: Pakistan’s digital economy is not just growing — it is accelerating.

With a 25.5 percent surge in ICT exports over just eight months, the country is fast emerging as one of the most dynamic digital investment frontiers in the Global South. From AI and fintech to cybersecurity, gaming, and cloud computing, Pakistan is building an innovation engine fueled by a young, tech-savvy workforce, favorable regulations, and a forward-leaning policy environment.

The DFDI Forum 2025 is your gateway to this transformation — your chance to be early, be bold, and be part of the next big frontier in global digital investment.

Not just talk — real deals, real connections

This is where ambition meets execution. DFDI Forum 2025 brings the entire digital ecosystem under one roof — startups, regulators, investors, development partners, and multinational tech leaders — in a space designed for meaningful engagement.

Through curated B2B meetups, high-level roundtables, and candid conversations with decision-makers, the forum is a hub of real-world deals and collaborative breakthroughs.

Whether you are scouting your next venture, exploring emerging markets, or building policy blueprints, this is the forum where ideas turn into action.

The global context: Why DFDI matters now

In an increasingly digital world, foreign direct investment must evolve. Traditional FDI models are being reshaped by data flows, digital infrastructure, and new modes of value creation. Yet many emerging markets remain underrepresented in global tech investment. That is why the DFDI Initiative and this forum matter.

By creating a shared framework for digital FDI, Pakistan and the DCO are providing a blueprint for other nations to follow — one that promotes trust, transparency, and technology transfer, while driving inclusive and resilient growth.

One forum. Endless possibilities. Every year.

By hosting this forum annually, Pakistan is signaling a long-term commitment to digital progress. It is not just about a moment, it is about momentum.

The DFDI Forum will be a living, breathing engine of change — a space where global actors return again and again to push boundaries, form alliances, and build the future of digital investment together.

Step into tomorrow with Pakistan leading the way

The DFDI Forum 2025 offers a front-row seat to a global digital shift. Be part of a movement that is transforming how, where, and why digital investments happen. From policy innovations to platform revolutions, witness firsthand the forces shaping tomorrow’s global economy.

Pakistan is open for innovation, inviting the world to co-create a future built on trust, tech, and transformation.

 

 


PwC Middle East and Sirar by stc’s CISO500 program advances cyber leadership

Updated 15 February 2026
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PwC Middle East and Sirar by stc’s CISO500 program advances cyber leadership

The fifth edition of the CISO500 program ran from Feb. 8-12. Delivered in partnership between PwC Middle East and Sirar by stc, the program featured five intensive days of rich discussions and hands-on practical experiences, aimed at strengthening leadership capabilities in cybersecurity and keeping pace with rapid technological transformation.

The program is designed to develop the capabilities of executive cybersecurity leaders and enhance their strategic role in supporting organizations’ digital transformation. It equips participants to address contemporary challenges in the cyber landscape and expand their influence within decision-making ecosystems.

Yasser Al-Swailem, CEO of Sirar by stc, said that the program represents an important step toward strengthening the readiness of cyber leaders in the region. He noted that the CISO500 program is a fundamental pillar in the journey toward building a secure and trusted Saudi cyberspace aligned with national ambitions. He added that investing in national cybersecurity leadership is no longer optional but a strategic necessity for ensuring sustainable digital development. The program reflects a commitment to empowering national talent to lead the digital security landscape according to the highest global standards.

He further emphasized that such initiatives contribute to strengthening digital security ecosystems and enabling organizations to confidently and sustainably address future challenges.

Samer Omar, cybersecurity and digital trust leader at PwC Middle East, added: “CISO500 is a long-term investment in Saudi leadership. Over the past year, we’ve seen how bringing together senior Saudi cybersecurity professionals in a structured executive environment accelerates capability, builds confidence and deepens collaboration. As the program enters its second year, our focus remains on equipping Saudi CISOs with the strategic perspective and technical depth required to secure the Kingdom’s digital ambitions.”

The program addressed a range of advanced topics, including common cyber transformation pitfalls, mechanisms for securing enterprise digital transformation, and cybersecurity budgeting and financial governance. These topics enhanced leaders’ ability to translate cyber risks and security investments into financial indicators that support executive decision-making.

It also covered the latest technological developments, particularly artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, quantum computing, and the protection of critical and operational infrastructure. Emphasis was placed on the importance of security governance for AI technologies and strengthening enterprise-wide risk management perspectives associated with them.

The program adopted an interactive learning methodology combining strategic discussions, collaborative work, and creative practical exercises, contributing to a deeper understanding of concepts and enabling their translation into applicable organizational practices.

Abdullah Al-Asmari, global cybersecurity director at the Saudi Research and Media Group and one of the program participants, said that the experience added significant strategic and practical value: “The program provided a rich experience that strengthened the leadership perspective of cybersecurity, particularly in linking technical practices with strategic and financial dimensions within the organization. It also offered valuable space for exchanging expertise on emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing, and the challenges of securing critical infrastructure. This experience enhances cyber leaders’ ability to adopt a more influential role in supporting digital transformation and enabling decision-making based on a comprehensive understanding of risk and value.”

He added that the program facilitated the exchange of insights on emerging challenges and strengthened the ability to align cybersecurity with institutional objectives and executive decision requirements.

Participants said that the program constituted a valuable professional and knowledge-driven experience that enhanced the readiness of cyber leaders to keep pace with rapid digital transformation, reinforcing cybersecurity’s role as a strategic enabler that supports innovation while preserving business trust, reliability, and sustainability.