ISLAMABAD: Pakistan inaugurated its national pavilion at Expand North Star 2025 in Dubai on Sunday, showcasing ten of the country’s most promising start-ups at the region’s premier technology and innovation gathering.
Held at the Dubai Harbor from Oct. 12 to 15, Expand North Star brings together start-ups, investors, and global innovators from more than 100 countries. Pakistan’s presence this year, under Ignite — National Technology Fund, underscores the country’s growing role in the global digital economy. The fund is a public-sector organization under Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT).
The Pakistan Pavilion was inaugurated by Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s envoy to the UAE, along with Rafique Ahmed Buriro, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of IT & Telecom and CEO of Ignite, and other officials.
Speaking on the occasion, Tirmizi highlighted the remarkable growth of Pakistan’s IT exports to the UAE, which reached $376 million in fiscal year 2024–25. He added that Pakistan’s overall IT exports had surpassed $3.76 billion, reflecting the country’s expanding global technology footprint.
“The participation of Pakistani startups at Expand North Star 2025 reflects our government’s vision to empower youth through technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” Buriro was quoted as saying in a statement.
“These startups are not only ambassadors of Pakistan’s digital potential but also vital contributors to our national goal of achieving sustainable economic growth through the knowledge economy. We are committed to continuing our efforts in supporting and expanding Pakistan’s startup ecosystem to compete globally.”
Buriro encouraged investors, entrepreneurs, and IT professionals to visit the Pakistan Pavilion, being held in Hall 8, Stand No. H8-B180, to witness the creativity and innovation driving Pakistan’s start-up ecosystem and to explore avenues for collaboration and investment.
Officials from the Ministry of IT & Telecom said that more than 40 independent Pakistani start-ups are participating this year across sectors such as fintech, healthtech, edtech, and artificial intelligence.
Investor interest at the Pakistan Pavilion has been “notably strong and vibrant,” with global venture capital firms, accelerators, and corporate partners exploring funding opportunities with Pakistani founders, according to the statement.
These engagements reflect “rising confidence in Pakistan’s ability to produce scalable, impactful, and investment-ready businesses,” the handout added.
