The first-ever Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum 2025 marked a groundbreaking moment in Pakistan’s journey toward becoming a global digital powerhouse. Organized by the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication and spearheaded by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), the Forum brought together global investors, policymakers, tech giants, and innovators for an in-depth dialogue on the future of digital investment in Pakistan.
Held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and organized by the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication in collaboration with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Forum drew participation from 30+ ministers, 75+ international investors, and over 100 leading Pakistani IT companies.
From the opening remarks to the closing roundtables, the message was clear: Pakistan is open for digital business and ready to lead.
“We envision Islamabad as the Davos of Digital Foreign Direct Investment,” said Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, addressing delegates during the opening plenary. “DFDI 2025 is more than an event , it is a commitment to shared innovation, borderless collaboration, and inclusive growth.”
Pakistan, a founding member of the DCO, is the first country to operationalize the DFDI framework, becoming the pilot for a broader international model aimed at attracting and regulating digital investment across emerging markets.
As a founding member of the DCO, Pakistan is the first country to operationalize the DFDI framework, positioning itself as a model for emerging economies seeking to attract and regulate digital investment.
The presence of Ms. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO, as Guest of Honor, further underscored Pakistan’s rising stature in the global digital economy. The Forum also reaffirmed Pakistan’s leadership within the DCO bloc, strengthening partnerships with member states in support of a shared vision for digital inclusion and economic empowerment.
$700 Million in Investment Pledges and a New Digital Framework
The event produced more than optics. Here are the key initiatives launched at the Forum:
- Close to $700 million in investment pledges secured across digital infrastructure, fintech, edtech, and AI sectors
- A Digital FDI Metrics Framework to standardize investment tracking across DCO member states
- Structured B2B matchmaking sessions connecting Pakistani startups with international VCs and accelerators
- An innovation showcase featuring 40+ emerging Pakistani tech companies
- High-level ministerial roundtables focused on regulatory harmonization and digital policy alignment
A Moment of Strategic Timing
The forum arrives at a time of fast-paced growth for Pakistan’s IT sector. The country recorded $3.2 billion in IT exports in the first nine months of FY2024–25, a 25.5% year-on-year increase. With over 142 million internet users, 73 million smartphones, and 65% of its population under the age of 30, Pakistan presents one of the youngest and most digitally connected talent pools in the world.
This demographic edge is matched by policy ambition. Recent initiatives such as Pakistan Stack, the National AI Policy (forthcoming), and the Digital Nation Pakistan Act reflect a long-term commitment to building a robust, investor-ready digital economy.
A Platform for the Global South
The DFDI Forum also reinforced Pakistan’s leadership within the DCO, a 16-member alliance representing a $3.5 trillion collective GDP and a population of over 800 million. It spotlighted how emerging economies can shape global digital rules, rather than simply follow them.
Sessions on AI governance, cloud policy, and cybersecurity resilience underscored the Forum’s ambition to not only attract capital but co-author the next chapter of digital regulation and innovation.
Beyond the Forum: A Long-Term Play
For Pakistan, the DFDI Forum is not a one-off. Plans are already underway to institutionalize it as an annual flagship, bringing continuity to international investor dialogue and policy engagement.
“This is Pakistan’s signal to the world,” said Minister Khawaja. “We are not here to catch up. We are here to lead.”
