July 26, 2024

P@SHA CXO Meetup - Faisalabad

The HBL P@SHA CXO Meetup in Faisalabad on July 26, 2024, was a tremendous success. The event facilitated meaningful networking, insightful discussions, and strategic collaboration among industry leaders.

Key Highlights:

• Warm Welcome: Secretary General P@SHA, Nadeem A. Malik
• Industry Insights: CEC member Mudassir Malik
• Upcoming Event Preview: HBL P@SHA ICT Awards 2024
• Notable Addresses:
  • Aamir Hameed, Head of Branchless Banking, HBL
  • Khadija Ali, Senior Manager Corporate & B2B Products, HBL
  • Yaqub Ahsan, CEO, Octans Digital (OD)
  • Muhammad Muddassir Naeem, CEO, Peak Solutions
  • Imad Malik, CEO, CO BUILD
  • Zeeshan Shahid, Project Director, NIC Faisalabad
• Thank You Notes:
  • Adeel Javaid, President FITCO & CEO Career Institute
  • Muhammad Azhar Iqbal, Conveyer P@SHA Faisalabad & CEO RankSol

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the event's success!

July 25, 2024

Information Security Conference 2024

On July 25, 2024, P@SHA was proud to partner with Total Communications for the Information Security Conference 2024. We were honored to have our Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Zohaib Khan, as a keynote speaker, and he shared his insights on the future of information security.

July 26, 2024

P@SHA Team visit to NIC Faisalabad

On 26th July, P@SHA Secretary General Nadeem A. Malik, along with Ayesha Ahmed and Zain Tariq from the Industry Engagement Team, had the pleasure of visiting NIC Faisalabad. The team toured their impressive facility and received valuable insights into their dynamic startups from Zeeshan Shahid, Project Director of NICF. As a gesture of appreciation, a special souvenir was presented to the Secretary General.

July 1, 2024

P@SHA Leadership Meets Finance Minister to Boost IT Sector Growth

On July 1, Chairman Mr. Muhammad Zohaib Khan, Vice Chairman Mr. Khuram Rahat, Secretary General Mr. Nadeem A. Malik, and Manager Policy and Government Affairs Ms. Laraib Farhat presented key recommendations on the IT and ITes sector to Federal Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, aiming to enhance export revenue and innovation. Both parties commit to a collaborative approach to promoting a stronger IT landscape in Pakistan.

P@SHA’s advocacy yields results

The State Bank of Pakistan has approved amendments to the Policy for Equity Investment Abroad by Residents to facilitate Exporters, especially those in the IT sector. The revisions can be accessed in the provisions of Para 13(II)A of Chapter 20 of the Foreign Exchange Manual (FEM). These changes will help our tech companies grow their international presence and increase the country's exports.

Key updates include:

• A new category of Equity Investment Abroad (EIA), specifically for export-oriented IT companies.

• No longer need prior bank designation for exporters utilizing funds from Exporters Special Foreign Currency Accounts (ESFCAs).

• IT exporters can now acquire interest (shareholding) in entities abroad.

• The previous restriction of establishing or acquiring only one entity per jurisdiction has been lifted.

The revisions can be accessed here: https://www.sbp.org.pk/epd/2024/FEC1-AnnexA.pdf

Correspondence with State Bank

In July, P@SHA engaged with the State Bank to discuss key issues and policy revisions affecting the IT and ITeS sectors. Represented by Secretary General Nadeem Aslam Malik, Manager Policy & Government Affairs Laraib Farhat, and Policy & Government Affairs Lead Gulraiz Iqbal, P@SHA reviewed the increase in ESFCAs, the issuance of Proceed Retention Certificates, the revision of the Equity Investment Policy, and finalization of purpose codes. Delays in vendor payments and the use of ESFCA funds for business purposes were also addressed.

Industry demands for cash rewards and RDA-like schemes to boost growth and investment were highlighted, emphasizing the importance of retaining 50% of export earnings in ESFCAs. A request was made for a list of focal persons in each bank, along with an inquiry about the FX internet portal timeline. The need for a proposal to keep dollars within the country to enhance sector growth and financial stability was also stressed.

Launch of Country Digital Ecosystem Diagnostic Report; a collaborative initiative by ADB and SDPI

P@SHA was invited to the launch event of the Country Digital Ecosystem Diagnostic Report for Pakistan, a comprehensive study jointly produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). This milestone event highlighted the collaborative efforts to advance the digital landscape of the country. P@SHA played a pivotal role in the development of the report, actively participating in numerous consultation sessions. Through these engagements, P@SHA provided valuable insights and feedback, drawing from its extensive experience and expertise in the digital sector. The contributions of P@SHA helped shape the report's recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with the needs and aspirations of the local digital ecosystem.

July 24, 2024

Strategic Foresight for a Sustainable Digital Pakistan: Identifying and Mitigating Policy Risks

On July 24th, P@SHA Policy team, Manager Policy Laraib Farhat and Policy Lead Gulraiz Iqbal, attended a workshop Strategic Foresight for a Sustainable Digital Pakistan: Identifying and Mitigating Policy Risks. The workshop was organized by Asian Development Bank as part of the technical assistance project titled "Pakistan’s Transformative Digital Future: Growth Strategy and Roadmap," with Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

This workshop aimed to analyze global trends and their impact on Pakistan's digital future, develop and apply strategic foresight methodologies tailored to the Pakistani context, collaboratively create actionable strategies for the country's digital transformation, and ultimately contribute to the development of Pakistan's Transformative Digital Future: Growth Strategy and Roadmap.

July 26, 2024

Seminar: Registration & Taxation for Digital Economy Startups, E-Commerce, IT Sector, and Freelancers

On July 26th, P@SHA Policy Team attended the Seminar on Registration & Taxation for Digital Economy Startups, E-Commerce, IT Sector, and Freelancers, organized by The Southern Regional Committee of ICAP.

This seminar aimed to enrich the understanding of individuals already engaged in these fields and assist prospective entrants in effective pre-planning. Additionally, the seminar also explored the tax benefits available under the law for these industries and offered insights into their optimal utilization.

P@SHA X CISO Summit

P@SHA is thrilled to partner with the 1st Indus CISO Summit 2024 in Karachi on August 13. Join us to elevate cybersecurity standards with top CIOs, CISOs, and IT professionals from across the region.

Register Here: https://www.induscs.net/ciso

P@SHA X IGDA Pakistan

P@SHA is proud to be an Outreach Partner for the Game Development Awards by IGDA Pakistan! We are thrilled to support the recognition of outstanding talents and projects within our community.

Nominate Your Games Today!
Submit your entries and showcase your creativity and skills to the world.

🔗 https://shorturl.at/gBE45

P@SHA X AzureFest Hackathon

P@SHA is excited to join as an outreach partner for the AzureFest Hackathon! Join us on August 12th and 13th, 2024, at Ashreitech Academy, NASTP, Karachi.

Students from all universities are welcome to participate and showcase their skills. The deadline has been extended to August 8th, so don't miss out!

Register Now:

🔗 Hackathon registration: https://forms.office.com/r/HwB...
🔗 Attendee registration: https://forms.office.com/r/7yc...

P@SHA X Viper Technology

We are thrilled to announce a special partnership with Viper Technology, offering a flat 20% discount on their cutting-edge tech solutions. Whether you need laptops, robust servers, or innovative accessories, Viper Technology has you covered. Enjoy exclusive pricing and elevate your tech game today!

Visit their website to claim your discount: https://viper.pk/viper/viper-x...

Central Executive Committee

Meeting with Ms. Sarah Mooney, British Deputy High Commissioner

On July 24, 2024, British Deputy High Commissioner Sarah Mooney visited NASTP, during which she met the P@SHA Chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan and the team. A CXO engagement session was held, during which the Chairman presented her with the P@SHA plaque as a token of appreciation.

July 2, 2024

Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence with Komatsu!

We are honored to announce that on July 2nd, Komatsu invited our Chairman, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, and Secretary General, Nadeem Malik, to celebrate their 25 years of excellence. This milestone event recognizes Komatsu's remarkable journey and contributions to the industry.

July 23, 2024

Meeting with NUTECH

A delegation from NUTECH comprising Brig Dr. Syed Adnan Qasim Registrar, Brig Salman Zafar Dir NORIIC and Air Cdre (R) Naveed Yousaf Dir PI&E visited Mr. M. Zohaib Khan, Chairman P@SHA at P@SHA’s Karachi office on 23rd July 2024 to brief on an update on the industry leadership on the latest progress in NUTECH Karachi Campus - An Exports Enhancement Project of Karachi Industry.

July 31, 2024

Chairman at IOBM and Huawei event

On July 31, Chairman P@SHA, Muhammad Zohaib Khan, participated as a panelist at the IOBM and Huawei event "Revolutionizing Higher Education in a Digitally Disrupted World" held at Mövenpick Karachi. 

The panel explored the future of higher education amidst digital transformation and disruptive technologies. It was a dynamic discussion on how educational institutions can adapt and innovate in this evolving landscape.

July 5. 2024

Visit for collaborative Future Ahead

On July 5th, we welcomed Mr. Ayaz Ahmed Uqaili, Member (Industry Development), and Mr. Fahad Saeed Warsi, Deputy Director, Information Science & Technology Department, Government of Sindh, to the P@SHA Karachi office. We discussed exciting opportunities for future collaboration and industry engagement.

July 5, 2024

Meeting with Information Science & Technology Department (ISTD)

The P@SHA Karachi Office welcomed a pivotal meeting between the Information Science & Technology Department (ISTD) of the Government of Sindh and IT industry leaders to discuss the agenda for the forthcoming Incubation Project.

Four esteemed dignitaries attended the industry engagement session:
- Mr. Ayaz Ahmed Uqaili, Member (Industry Development), ISTD, Government of Sindh
- Mr. Azam Mughal, CEO, SecureBeans
- Mr. Munaf Majeed, CEO, Server4Sale
- Ms. Farhat Bokhari, Managing Director, Sharp Telecom

The discussions focused on how P@SHA members could contribute their expertise and insights to ensure the project's success.

Skills Committee

MOU Signing with FICS

P@SHA signed an MOU with FICS (Finding Innovative & Creative Solutions), the flagship international entrepreneurship program of the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST). It is a global competition between the brightest minds who present innovative solutions to some of the world's most challenging issues. The partnership aims to strengthen the involvement of industry in enabling innovation and creativity at student level. The signing ceremony was attended by the Vice Chairman Mr. Khurram Rahat, Secretary General and the skills team from the secretariat.

Meeting with Atom Camp

P@SHA had a detailed meeting with Atom Camp, a training organization that is involved in conducting boot camps at universities and publishing articles relevant to skills development. P@SHA skills and policy teams had a joint session with their team to discuss the possibility of a collaboration to carry out research and publishing work related to both skills and policy. On the training front, P@SHA informed us that we might consider creating private-sector partnerships where private training organizations can apply.

British Council Stakeholders Consultation Workshop

After completion of three phases, the EU is funding TVET IV which is being implemented by the British Council and GIZ. The British Council is leading on component 4, aiming to develop a high quality, relevant and inclusive TVET system with improved career pathways in TVET and Higher Education (HE) sector. In order to prepare the framework and execution plan for component 4 of the program, P@SHA attended the workshop arranged with the support of execution partners. The event brought together approximately 25-35 key stakeholders from the Digital and High-Tech IT community. The workshop encouraged dialogue and collected insights from participants to improve the effective implementation of component 4 of the program.

Participation in Asian Development Bank’s FGD on ICT Skill Requirement and Strategy

P@SHA Secretariat attended a Focus Group Discussion organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The invitation included a close group of industry leaders to discuss the skills requirement map for a strategy for Punjab Skill Development Initiatives starting in 2025. The participants discussed the current IT ecosystem and reviewed and updated the sets of skills obtained from the P@SHA Skills Requirement Analysis Report, rating them in terms of availability and difficulty in hiring required human resources.

Meeting with IPSOS on Skills Assessment Report

The IPSOS team is tasked with carrying out a skills requirement assessment for the British Council. The EU-funded program requires a skills assessment and a supply assessment. P@SHA informed the team of the plans to partner with GIZ for a report of the same nature and advised IPSOS to avoid any duplication of work. In addition to this, Aleem Abbas Manager of Skills Development answered their concerns regarding their upcoming project and how to best implement it.

Meeting with PSDF on Skills Development

The Skills Development and Training department of P@SHA met the PSDF team to discuss an upcoming collaboration of creating impact bonds for a multi-donor-funded project where P@SHA can take the responsibility of conducting demand-based skills development for the next 3 to 5 years.

23 – 27 September 2024

Oslo Innovation Week

Oslo Innovation Week is a prominent annual event in Europe, attracting a diverse array of innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and industry leaders from various sectors. This innovation festival serves as an excellent platform for exploring and promoting cutting-edge technologies, entrepreneurship, and innovative solutions.

Upcoming Events

14 - 18 October 2024

GITEX DUBAI 2024

We are thrilled to announce that P@SHA is organizing a delegation to Ai Everything, the crown jewel of GITEX GLOBAL. This premier event, known as the world's greatest business connector, brings together the most trusted tech leaders, global governments, innovative startups, expert investors, and corporate buyers.