July 10th, 2025

P@SHA at the Globe Pakistan Summit

As part of its continued industry engagement, P@SHA proudly participated in the GLOBE Pakistan Summit 2025, organized by TDAP under the Ministry of Commerce, to champion Pakistan’s digital economy on the regional stage.

With the presence of government leaders, e-commerce platforms, tech innovators, logistics providers, and digital payment stakeholders from across Central Asia, the summit provided a vital platform for collaboration and policy dialogue.

Led by Chairman Mr. Sajjad Syed, P@SHA represented the voice of the private sector, advocating for regional partnerships and stronger digital trade alignment. The summit also featured focused B2B networking sessions, helping unlock new market opportunities and strengthen cross-border tech linkages.

July 31st, 2025

Coffee with HBL – Industry Roundtable with P@SHA Members

P@SHA, in collaboration with HBL, hosted an exclusive “Coffee with HBL” session that brought together startup founders, technology leaders, and key decision-makers, for an evening of meaningful conversation and knowledge exchange.

Representing P@SHA, CEC Members Salman Dar and Abdul Wahab Ahmad contributed valuable insights grounded in their extensive industry experience, helping shape discussions around ecosystem growth, innovation, and strategic collaboration.

This gathering served as more than just a networking opportunity. It provided a focused platform for addressing real challenges, sharing ideas, and identifying pathways for impactful progress in Pakistan’s evolving digital economy.

With HBL and P@SHA jointly leading this initiative, “Coffee with HBL” continues to serve as a catalyst for dialogue that drives change and strengthens our tech ecosystem.

P@SHA X National CERT to Advance Cybersecurity

On July 3rd, P@SHA and the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT–Pakistan) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cybersecurity collaboration across Pakistan’s tech ecosystem.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Haider Abbas (TI), Director General National CERT, and Ali Hasani, Secretary General P@SHA. The signing was also attended by P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Syed, Mohammad Munaf Majeed (Chair, Cybersecurity Committee), Dr. Sonia Saleem (Chair, D&I Committee), and Salman Dar (CEC Member), underscoring the leadership’s strong commitment to national digital security.

The partnership will focus on capacity building, joint awareness campaigns, threat intelligence sharing, and policy alignment to support a more resilient digital future for Pakistan.

Withholding Tax Rate under Section 153(1)(b) for IT and IT Enabled Services

Recent amendments to Pakistan’s tax framework have revised withholding tax rates on service payments, but the concessional rate for the IT and ITes sector has been maintained. While the Finance Act, 2025 increased rates for most specified services, it introduced a specific proviso ensuring that IT and ITES defined to include activities such as software development, web services, data processing, and cloud-based solutions remain subject to a reduced 4% withholding tax. Although software development was previously listed separately, it is clearly included in the statutory definition of IT services. Accordingly, it continues to benefit from the lower rate.

Clarification on Non-Applicability of Digital Presence Proceeds Tax Act, 2025

The Digital Presence Proceeds Tax Act, 2025 was exempted through robust advocacy efforts from P@SHA, PSEB, MoITT, and SIFC in the finance bill 2025. This exemption applies retrospectively from the date the law came into force, effectively pausing its enforcement. While the Act itself remains intact and may be revived through future policy decisions, the current exemption removes the associated tax and compliance obligations for now. Other applicable tax laws, such as the Income Tax Ordinance, continue to operate independently of this development.

Help us shape the State of the Industry Report

P@SHA, in collaboration with Data Darbar and with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is developing the State of the IT Industry Report 2025 a comprehensive, data-driven diagnostic of Pakistan’s IT and ITeS sector. The report will assess key dimensions such as industry offerings, infrastructure, regulation, workforce development, and future trends, with the goal of informing policy, guiding investment, and strengthening the digital economy. As of July 8, a nationwide survey was circulated among our membership to gather sector-wide insights, marking the start of the primary data collection phase.

The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JDYY7ZR

Central Executive Committee

P@SHA–EOBI Industry Dialogue – A Step Toward Policy Reform

In collaboration with the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the Ministry of IT and Telecom, P@SHA hosted a high-level seminar in Islamabad to address long-standing concerns and reform EOBI policies to better support the IT and ITeS sector.

The session brought together key public and private sector stakeholders for an open and solution-driven dialogue focused on aligning EOBI’s processes with the dynamic needs of the tech industry. Discussions centered on policy improvement, operational streamlining, and enabling a more business-friendly environment for IT companies across Pakistan.

As a major outcome, EOBI helpdesks are now being established in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, alongside the formation of a Joint Working Group comprising representatives from P@SHA, PSEB, the Ministry of IT, and SIFC. This collaborative body will work to ensure continued engagement and progress on EOBI reforms.

This initiative marks a meaningful step forward in institutional collaboration and responsive policy-making for Pakistan’s digital economy.

P@SHA & PMYP Collaboration to Empower Pakistan’s Digital Youth

PASHA had the privilege of holding an insightful informal meeting with Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Program (PMYP). The meeting was attended by PASHA CEC members Sheikh Abdul Qadir (Chair AI), Dr. Sonia Saleem (Chair Diversity & Inclusion), and Mohammad Munaf (Co-Chair Industry Engagement & Chair Cybersecurity).

During the session, meaningful discussions took place about enhancing collaboration between PASHA and PMYP, focusing specifically on strengthening internship placements and equipping Pakistani youth with cutting-edge skills to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.

We look forward to jointly advancing these initiatives to foster greater opportunities and growth for our talented young people.

Skills Committee

P@SHA Salary Survey 2025

The annual P@SHA Salary Survey is now live! This flagship initiative gathers crucial compensation data from tech companies across Pakistan to help benchmark industry standards, support talent retention, and guide HR and policy decisions.

Whether you're a startup or a large tech company, your input helps shape a more transparent and data-driven ecosystem for everyone.

🗓️ Last date to submit: 31st August

If you haven’t filled it out yet, we encourage you to participate and share it within your network as the report will be free of cost to all the respondents of the survey!

Games Committee

P@SHA Hosts Esports Delegation in Collaboration with Prime Minister’s Youth Program

On July 29th, P@SHA proudly hosted an exclusive meetup with the Esports delegation led by the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the future of Pakistan’s gaming and esports ecosystem. The session, led by Raheel Iqbal, Vice Chairman P@SHA, featured an introduction to P@SHA’s work and insights into the immense potential of Pakistan’s Games and Esports sectors. The dialogue focused on identifying collaboration opportunities, policy support, and cross-border partnerships to accelerate growth in the esports arena.

The visit was aimed to support the creation of Pakistan’s first National Esports Policy and the establishment of the Pakistan Esports Federation. This initiative will pave the way for youth engagement, digital skills development, and new economic opportunities in the gaming industry.

Esteemed guests from leading local game studios — WeRPlay, Funsol, and Algoryte — joined the discussion, alongside representatives from the British Esports Federation, Commonwealth, and the Government of Pakistan.

July 29th, 2025

P@SHA Conducts Successful Webinar with Google: P@SHA App Incubation Lab

P@SHA hosted a high-impact webinar titled "P@SHA App Incubation Lab" in collaboration with Google, featuring domain experts from the Google Ads team including Hufsa Munawar, Trinh Thai and Tanzeela Khan

The session covered key insights on:

• App monetization best practices

• Growth & user acquisition strategies

• Google’s support for emerging app developers

The webinar was attended by 90+ participants, including several upcoming and unique game & app studios from across Pakistan. The energy was high, and many developers expressed strong interest in registering with Google to advertise their apps — a promising sign for the future of our local ecosystem!

Industry Engagement Committee

sAi Venture Capital Webinar – Evaluation Underway

Following the successful sAi Venture Capital Webinar organized by the Industry Engagement Committee, participating companies are now under evaluation for potential investment and collaboration. This session served as a strategic platform to connect high-potential tech startups with investors and explore meaningful growth opportunities.

July 22nd, 2025

P@SHA Member Growth Series – Driving Scale and Impact

The P@SHA Member Growth Series, an initiative led by the Industry Engagement Committee, officially kicked off with its inaugural edition in Islamabad. Designed for high-growth tech companies, the session brought together founders, CXOs, and industry leaders for an intensive learning experience focused on scaling, leadership, and innovation.

The Islamabad workshop delivered practical insights and strategic guidance, enabling participants to sharpen their approach to growth and navigate the evolving challenges of the tech ecosystem.

Building on this strong start, the Growth Series is now expanding to Lahore and Karachi, continuing its mission to empower P@SHA members with knowledge, tools, and peer learning opportunities that support sustainable scale.

Stay connected — this is just the beginning of a nationwide journey toward tech excellence.

Capacity Building for Regional Expansion – GCC Workshop Recap

In collaboration with AshreiTech, P@SHA offered members a special 20% discount to attend the two-day workshop "The Art of Business Development in the GCC" held at AshreiTech Academy, Karachi.

Led by Atif Iqbal (Co-founder, Orbetx), the session equipped participants with practical tools and strategies for navigating the Gulf market, one of the most lucrative regions for IT and digital businesses.

The workshop marked an important step in empowering our members to pursue regional growth with confidence.

We proudly welcome the newest members of the PASHA community. Together let's forge a path for industry growth, success, and a better economic future powered by IT.

September 24th-25th, 2025

AI & Big Data Expo Europe 2025

P@SHA is thrilled to announce its official delegation to the AI & Big Data Expo Europe 2025 in Amsterdam! This is your opportunity to showcase Pakistan’s capabilities in AI and big data on a global platform, connect with industry pioneers, explore international collaborations, and gain valuable insights from over 200 expert speakers and 6,000+ tech professionals from around the world.

ASOCIO Digital Summit Awards 2025 – Nominations Now Open

P@SHA is pleased to open nominations for the ASOCIO Digital Summit Awards 2025, serving as the only official nomination channel from Pakistan.

These prestigious regional awards recognize excellence across the digital ecosystem, with participation from 24+ economies. Pakistani companies creating meaningful impact in tech are strongly encouraged to apply. 

View categories & criteria: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qt76RWw83OSFJyqep6rC7nTjlhI2vEy3/view

Let’s showcase Pakistan’s digital innovation on the regional stage.

September, 2025

HBL P@SHA ICT Awards 2025

The HBL P@SHA ICT Awards 2025 are happening this September, bringing Pakistan’s top tech talent to the spotlight once again! This year marks a major milestone as P@SHA received a record-breaking 1,633 applications — the highest in the Awards’ history. Get ready to witness innovation, impact, and excellence like never before!

October 13th-17th, 2025

GITEX Global Dubai

One of the world’s largest and most influential tech events is happening in Dubai - GITEX Global, bringing together the most innovative minds, emerging startups, and global investors in the heart of the Middle East. This is your chance to position your company on a global stage, connect with key decision-makers, and explore new business opportunities.