San Francisco: Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh engaged in a series of meetings in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, California, focusing on enhancing trade and investment in Pakistan’s rapidly expanding IT sector. He was accompanied by the Consul General of Pakistan in Los Angeles. These interactions underscored the government’s commitment to fostering a dynamic environment for technological innovation and international collaboration.

According to Radio Pakistan, at the Annual Forum of the Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs (OPEN) Silicon Valley, the Ambassador outlined Pakistan’s ambitious IT growth targets, aiming to increase IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) exports to 15 billion dollars by 2029 and 30 billion dollars by 2030. He highlighted the thriving freelancer ecosystem, comprising the world’s second-largest active professionals, which places Pakistan among the top global providers of freelance services.

In addition to addressing the forum, the Ambassador held exten
sive discussions with corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors actively involved in Pakistan’s IT and tech ecosystem. He highlighted the government’s efforts to provide a conducive business environment through tax incentives, regulatory reforms, and improved infrastructure.

Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh also spoke about the challenges posed by the complex geopolitical dynamics in South Asia but emphasized that technological advancements, especially in fields like AI, can serve as equalizers. He expressed confidence that these technologies could uplift millions of lives, bridge socio-economic gaps, and drive inclusive growth in Pakistan.

Throughout his engagements, the Ambassador encouraged U.S.-based investors and entrepreneurs of Pakistani origin to explore Pakistan as an investment destination. He highlighted the long-standing Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relationship as a strong foundation for expanding economic ties. By leveraging these historic ties, he urged the diaspora and business leaders to con
tribute to Pakistan’s economic progress and technological advancement.