Karachi: Pakistani IT companies are making significant strides in the global tech arena, with over 100 firms participating in LEAP 2025, one of the world’s largest technology trade fairs, currently underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This year marks Pakistan’s highest-ever participation at LEAP, with more than 1,000 delegates attending the event.
Pakistan’s IT exports to Saudi Arabia reached $50 million in the last fiscal year (FY24), and companies are now aiming to further expand their presence in the Kingdom. At LEAP 2025, Pakistani firms are showcasing cutting-edge IT solutions and services, engaging in strategic networking, and exploring joint ventures and investment opportunities.
State Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, is leading the Pakistani delegation and inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion at the event. Her presence underscores the government’s commitment to supporting the IT sector’s growth and international collaboration.
Muhammad Umair Nizam, Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA), highlighted the potential of LEAP for Pakistani companies. He noted that Pakistani IT firms are attracting significant interest from foreign companies across various sectors. Nizam also revealed that Pakistan’s IT exports grew by 100% in the last financial year, with expectations of another record-breaking year driven by new business deals at both public and private levels.
Nizam credited the collaborative efforts of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Ministry of IT, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and P@SHA for creating a favorable environment for IT companies to expand into the Saudi market and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
To facilitate Pakistani companies, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) has set up a dedicated help desk, simplifying the business registration process. Over 100 Pakistani tech companies have already successfully registered in the Saudi market, thanks to this initiative.
Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze and an IT exporter with operations in Saudi Arabia, emphasized the importance of LEAP as a platform for connecting with multinational corporations. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s growing focus on AI, fintech, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and smart city solutions presents a lucrative opportunity for Pakistani IT firms, which are already renowned for their expertise in software development, enterprise solutions, and digital services.
With Saudi Arabia emerging as a regional technology powerhouse, LEAP 2025 serves as a gateway for Pakistani companies to expand their footprint across the Middle East and beyond. It may be mentioned here that Pakistan’s IT exports recorded a significant increase, reaching $1.53billion in the first half of the 2024-25 financial year. Projections indicate that this figure could surpass $4 billion by the end of FY25.
