P@SHA PULSE Vol 13. November 2023 Edition
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Dear Members
As we navigate through another active quarter, our commitment towards enhancing the IT sector in Pakistan remains steadfast. We've made significant headway in advocating for tax relief, easing dollar repatriation, and exploring the issuance of corporate credit cards. Additionally, we're exploring avenues for Islamic interest on our dollar holdings.
These successes, while challenging due to bureaucratic hurdles and political instability, reflect our long term strategy to accelerate the IT sector by investing out efforts in key areas namely Policy Advocacy for ease of doing business / tax relief, capacity building via Skills, Brand Pakistan, and local industry development via Made-in-Pakistan.
Despite facing bureaucratic challenges and political instability, our long term policy of fostering strong relationship across all stake holders specially MoITT, the PM's office, the Military, and political leadership have allowed us to make significant headway in our key target areas through tax relief, easing dollar repatriation, and exploring the issuance of corporate credit cards with Islamic interest options.
The Government is beginning to recognize the untapped potential of our industry and that’s why our team's efforts resulted in SIFC including IT sector as part of their priority.
Our Chairman's participation in events like USAID IPA's Investment Roadshow and the Build Asia Expo 2023 Proptech and Smartech Convention and the launch of the IT Exports strategy have been pivotal in fostering alliances and promoting economic growth.
Our community is rich with successful individuals eager to mentor and guide others. The open debates in our WhatsApp groups are a testament to our vibrant community spirit.
As we move forward, we remain committed to these endeavors and welcome your continuous support, feedback, and guidance. Your involvement is crucial in overcoming the challenges we face and in driving the growth of Pakistan's IT sector.
Regards,
P@SHA CEC
By the Members, For the Members
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November 13 - 15 ,2023
ASOCIO Digital Summit 2023
P@SHA Secretary General, Nadeem Aslam Malik, attended the ASOCIO Digital Summit 2023 in Seoul, Korea. Day one witnessed his active engagement with the ASOCIO General Board, reinforcing P@SHA's commitment to advancing Pakistan's IT industry globally. On Day 2, Nadeem Aslam Malik expertly moderated a session on Digital Government and public Innovation, featuring esteemed speakers from Singapore, Japan, and Korea. Moreover, Nadeem Malik also gave a presentation on "Unlocking Pakistan's Digital Potential. The summit showcased P@SHA's influence and collaboration on the international digital landscape.
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November 24 ,2023
P@SHA Presents Pakistan's IT Success Story to ASEAN Diplomats at FSA Briefing
The Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad, organized a two-week diplomatic course exclusively for diplomats from ASEAN states. The course aimed to build bridges with these countries, showcasing a positive image of Pakistan to the region. It also aimed to help our dignified foreign guests better understand Pakistan's foreign policy and economic potential. As part of this initiative, P@SHA was honored to deliver an industry briefing highlighting the achievements of Pakistan's IT industry and the future roadmap for tech in Pakistan.
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November 24, 2023
National Information Technology Board
4th Technical Review Committee's Meeting on Drafted Guidelines Developed Under The Project, "Demand-Driven Industry Quality And Capacity Enhancement Program”
The 4th Technical Review Committee's Meeting on Drafted Guidelines Developed Under The Project, "Demand-Driven Industry Quality And Capacity Enhancement Program '' was held which included representatives from P@SHA, NITB, and MoITT. The purpose of this meeting was to unanimously approve the 04 Guideline Policy Document that had been under the review phase by both the Public and Private sectors. P@SHA endorsed the thorough review of 04 guideline Policy documents by the Industry through Policy Jirga Sessions. The meeting emphasized the need for periodic industry reviews on these documents to keep pace with technological developments.
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November 27, 2023
State Bank
Meeting of the Governor SBP with Senior Officials of IT Industry
In a recent meeting of the State Bank Governor with the Senior Officials of IT industry, Chairman P@SHA, Muhammad Zohaib Khan highlighted key challenges faced by the IT sector, emphasizing the need for a streamlined banking system and improved trust between the industry and the State Bank. CEC member, Shahzad Shahid and Policy Manager, Laraib Farhat also represented P@SHA. Discussions focused on issues related to corporate debit cards, outward remittances, and the importance of diverse payment options in Pakistan. The State Bank of Pakistan assured representatives of efforts to enhance the payment ecosystem and introduced initiatives like Roadshows and Help Desks for better communication. MoITT emphasized a shift towards business expansion, technology transfer facilitation, and a focus on product development over consulting services. The discussions underscored collaborative efforts to address broad themes and foster growth in the IT sector.
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November 30, 2023
PM Office
P@SHA, represented by CEC member Mohsin Ali and Secretary General Nadeem Malik, alongside Policy Manager Laraib Farhat and Policy Associate Gulraiz Iqbal, was invited by the National Security Division at the Prime Minister's office to provide insights on orchestrating an exclusive event at the Islamabad Security Dialogue 2024.
P@SHA underscored the need for cross-collaboration between key industries to explore new investment opportunities and stressed that technology is integral to every aspect of national security. The absence of Pakistan's participation in the Open Government Partnership raised concerns about data governance, prompting the proposal for a cross-industry dialogue at ISD.
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Central Executive Committee
Chairman at USAID IPA's Investment Roadshow
The energy at the USAID IPA's Investment Roadshow in Dubai today was incredibly vibrant! P@SHA, in collaboration with USAID IPA, Pakistan Embassy UAE, SIFC, BOI, and Pakistani firms, came together to pave the way for a brighter economic future. Our collective journey continues as we endeavor to attract foreign direct investments into Pakistan.
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P@SHA Pakistan's first-ever IT Exports Strategy
P@SHA Chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan and CEC Member Khuram Rahat attended the unveiling of Pakistan's first-ever IT Exports Strategy, launched by the Ministry of IT & Telecommunications through PSEB in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Chairman delivered an address on the critical role of the IT industry in shaping Pakistan's economic landscape. He also shared that the report is keenly guided by industry insights and that collaboration with the industry is integral to the success of national projects & initiatives.
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Chairman at the 17th Build Asia Expo 2023 Proptech and Smartech Convention
Chairman of P@SHA Muhammad Zohaib Khan took the stage as a speaker at the 17th Build Asia Expo 2023 Proptech and Smartech Convention. The distinguished Governor of Sindh honored him with a recognition shield. It was a significant day marked by the building of bridges, forging alliances, and a shared commitment towards progress and collaboration.
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P@SHA CEC at Karachi Hackathon 2023
On Saturday, November 25, 2023, Azam Mughal, a member of P@SHA CEC, actively participated in the Hackathon held in Karachi. The Karachi Hackathon 2023 stood as a testament to the exceptional talent and potential within Pakistan's burgeoning tech ecosystem. This event served as a jubilant celebration of innovation and collaboration, underscoring the limitless possibilities that await in the dynamic realm of cybersecurity.
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Skills Committee
Meetings on Standardized Test for Graduates with MOITT, ETC and HEC
Skills Development Team (Aleem, Manager Skills Development, and Safa Associate Skills Development) along with Ali Ihsan Chair, Skills Committee, have been actively involved in the process of creating a standardized test for the graduates to help evaluate their employability. P@SHA is helping the stakeholders ensure that the test is competitive enough for the industry to evaluate the candidates for potential hiring. P@SHA has helped ETC, the autonomous body created by HEC to create a test by helping them create an industry-focused question bank.
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P@SHA collaborations with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications
In his concerted efforts, Nadeem Malik has actively engaged in fostering collaboration between the realms of industry and academia. By directly liaising with the Minister of IT, he aims to implement strategic initiatives that will enhance cooperation, align educational curricula with industry needs, and ultimately contribute to meeting Pakistan's ambitious export targets.
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Collaboration with NAVTTC, MOIT and PSEB on PM’s Youth Skill Development Program
The Manager Skills Development, Skills team and the Skills committee at P@SHA have actively taken part in providing advisory services to NAVTTC in creating a certification-focused skills development program for 16,000 graduates. The program is based on the recommended technologies from the P@SHA Skills Survey and the insights of P@SHA. Along with a focus on international certifications at the end of the program.P@SHA is further helping the stakeholders develop a test for student onboarding.
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Collaboration with MOITT and HEC on Bootcamps
P@SHA is engaged in a collaborative effort with HEC and in the process of designing a bootcamp. HEC will furnish the necessary infrastructure, while PASHA will oversee program execution through industry involvement. The plan, meticulously developed in conjunction with HEC, is nearing its finalization stage.
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Collaboration with PSDF
P@SHA has provided its advisory services to PSDF for the upcoming skills initiative focusing on both undergraduate and graduate levels. The program will target the most vulnerable parts of society with a special focus on entry-level skills for the IT industry to help people from tier 3 cities and remote places get jobs.
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UNDP Youth Project Meeting with P@SHA
P@SHA Skills Team advised the UNDP team on their upcoming skills related initiatives with an opportunity to collaborate.
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Meeting with STVET
P@SHA Skills Team advised the STVET team on their upcoming program. P@SHA provided the list of in-demand Skills and a suitable training model for the IT industry.
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Meetings with Training Institutes
P@SHA Skills Team met with different training institutes to identify their needs and lay out a plan for collaboration on different levels to both improve the quality of trainings and help the IT industry.
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Animation and Games Committee
Create Pakistan
P@SHA was the outreach partner for the Create Pakistan Workshop on Pitch Perfect: Crafting the Ideal Pitch for US,EMEA and APAC Buyers" by Silas Hickey on November 21, 2023. Silas Hickey, an Australian based in Tokyo, has an extensive background in animated IP development, he brings deep expertise in anime and western-cartoon IP development for global audiences.
The workshop helped the games and animation companies learn the skill of crafting a pitch for international investors.
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November 5, 2023 |
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Exciting News! Eden Spell Technologies (Pakistan) & Abacus Multimedia (Australia) Partner Up! |
Eden Spell Technologies, a leading web development agency specializing in backend development, programming, and coding services, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Australia based Abacus Multimedia, a prominent web design agency known for its cutting-edge design solutions.
Majid Fazal, CEO of Eden Spell Technologies, and Paul Dobson, CEO of Abacus Multimedia, can't wait to deliver top-notch web solutions together.
The collaboration between these two industry leaders will empower clients to access a comprehensive suite of web development and design services under one roof, ensuring a seamless and holistic approach to their online presence.
View Website
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November 1, 2023 |
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GESS 23: Beaconhouse Technology's Future Learning Vision! |
Beaconhouse Technology (BT) participated actively in the renowned GESS (Global Educational Supplies & Solutions) conference, contributing to the landscape of educational technology. We exhibited innovative solutions for the education sector. It was a display of innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to contributing to the future of education.
These solutions are customizable and can be easily tailored according to the needs of any sector, including corporate, education, and, last but not least, the financial services sector. Products included SEO & digital marketing, digital transformation, end-to-end impact measurement, redefinition of processes through AI, managed services, and data-driven decisions.
View Website
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26-29 February 2024
Web Summit Qatar
Web Summit Qatar joins the roster of international events organised by Web Summit, alongside Web Summit in Lisbon, Web Summit Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Collision in Toronto, and RISE in Hong Kong.
Web Summit Qatar takes place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) from February 26-29, 2024.
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4 – 7 March 2024
Leap 2024
LEAP is dubbed the most attended tech event in the world - and this year, we're getting a head start on putting together our delegation.
In 2024, LEAP will head back to Riyadh between March 4-7 to bring together the global technology ecosystem once more.
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18 – 22 March 2024
GDC 2024
Get ready for an extraordinary tech experience! GDC 2024, renowned as a global game-changer in the tech world, is on the horizon, and we're thrilled to kickstart the planning for our official P@SHA delegation.
In 2024, GDC will take center stage in San Francisco from March 18 to 22, attracting the global gaming community for five days of innovation and networking.
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Secretariat |
Daftarkhwan North, Street 7, I-10/3, Islamabad Capital Territory 44800
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