ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s growing presence at Dubai’s GITEX Global Expo has helped push the country’s IT exports to the United Arab Emirates to $380 million, up from $280 million last year, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Tirmizi, said on Monday.

At GITEX Global 2025, Pakistan has set up a National Pavilion showcasing 10 startups and more than 26 tech firms, highlighting the country’s expanding digital potential. The pavilion was launched by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja to promote business networking, global partnerships, and foreign investment in Pakistan’s tech sector.

The five-day exhibition, running from October 13 to 17, features over 6,500 companies from more than 180 countries and attracts about 200,000 tech professionals along with thousands of expert speakers on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, digital transformation and sustainable technologies.

“Over 1000 Pakistani IT experts have come to this Gitex expo this year and this growing participation every year is establishing Pakistan as the next destination of tech,” Tirmizi said, adding that “UAE is becoming a growing market and partner for Pakistani IT companies.”

“Pakistan’s IT exports [to UAE] have increased from $280 million last year to $380 million and this is the third largest destination of Pakistani exports,” he added.

Khan said the Pakistan Pavilion offered “opportunities to 36 Pakistani companies and startups to show their businesses and IT solutions to the world.”

“It is a great opportunity for Pakistan’s IT talent and IT businesses to project their innovation, entrepreneurship and hard work on a global stage,” he said, adding that “this will get a lot of support for the IT sector and Pakistan’s exports of IT services will increase.”

Muhammad Zohaib Khan, former chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and one of the exhibitors, said over 100 Pakistani companies were taking part this year. The Pakistan Pavilion “received an excellent response” from visitors on the opening day, he added. 

“Around 36 IT companies and startups are part of Pakistani pavilion while remaining participating in private capacity,” he told Arab News. “The response on the first day was excellent, and all participating companies are hopeful of generating strong leads and securing deals by the end of the expo.”

Minister Khawaja said Pakistan’s participation in GITEX Global reflected “its confidence, capability, and commitment to a digitally empowered future.”

“With a young, skilled workforce and an expanding base of IT exports, Pakistan is ready to play a central role in shaping the global tech economy,” she said. “The Pakistan Pavilion represents not just our innovation but our invitation to the world to partner in growth.”