LOS ANGELES: The Pakistan-American Tech Council (PAKAMTECH) convened its formal session, at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Los Angeles.
The meeting was chaired by ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, and was attended by Consul General Asim Ali Khan alongside more than forty distinguished members of the Council, comprising senior executives, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the U.S. technology ecosystem.
Ambassador Sheikh underlined the strategic importance of the Pakistani-American technology diaspora in fostering deeper linkages between the innovation ecosystems of Pakistan and the United States.
He expressed appreciation for the Council’s active engagement and reaffirmed the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to enabling a transparent, forward-looking, and investor-friendly environment for technology partnerships.
Consul General Mr. Asim Ali Khan expressed appreciation for the active contributions of the diaspora and reaffirmed the Consulate’s continued support in advancing bilateral technology and investment linkages.
The Council formally endorsed the appointment of Najeeb U. Ghauri as President of PAKAMTECH.
Ambassador Sheikh welcomed the nomination and expressed confidence in Mr. Ghauri’s leadership to guide the Council’s strategic priorities.
Ambassador Sheikh provided an overview of Pakistan’s rapidly expanding IT industry, noting that IT exports exceeded US$ 3 billion in FY 2023–24, with the United States accounting for over 70% of the export share. He highlighted Pakistan’s growing competitiveness in software development, BPO, fintech, AI, and cloud services.
Members were briefed on the robust incentives offered by the government of Pakistan to support foreign and diaspora investment in the digital economy.
Ambassador Sheikh also acknowledged the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) in streamlining investor facilitation and approvals.
The Council unanimously adopted a one-year action plan focused on promoting Pakistan tTech investment conferences in U.S. innovation hubs, facilitating C-level delegations of U.S. tech firms to Pakistan , strengthening collaboration in emerging technologies including AI, cybersecurity, and health tech, deepening engagement with U.S. venture capital and startup incubators.
Ambassador Sheikh lauded the Council’s proactive engagement, describing PAKAMTECH as a key enabler in Pakistan’s broader digital diplomacy efforts. He encouraged members to remain closely engaged as trusted partners in promoting Pakistan’s technology potential globally and assured them of the Embassy’s full support in facilitating sustained dialogue and collaboration.
