By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar addressed the launch of the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in a keynote speech in Islamabad, setting out an ambitious vision for Pakistan’s future as a regional hub for digital innovation and economic transformation.
Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said the government aimed to reposition the country’s economic trajectory by strengthening its digital ecosystem and expanding the role of technology in national development. He referred to the broader policy direction set by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying the leadership viewed technology, innovation and youth engagement as central pillars for long-term growth.
According to him, Pakistan’s expanding IT sector and large young population offered a structural advantage that, if properly harnessed, could accelerate economic modernization. Senator Ishaq Dar highlighted emerging opportunities under the framework of CPEC 2.0.
Dar said the next phase of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor marked a shift away from traditional infrastructure projects towards what he described as “intelligent infrastructure”, including digital connectivity, artificial intelligence, advanced information and communication technologies, and wider innovation ecosystems designed to integrate Pakistan into global digital supply chains.
The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed what he called Pakistan’s “all-weather” strategic partnership with China, describing it as a long-standing relationship now entering a new phase of cooperation centered on digital development and economic integration. He said this evolving partnership was expected to create new investment channels and support technological capacity-building across multiple sectors.
The launch of the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters was presented by him as a significant milestone in this direction. He said it reflected growing international and domestic confidence in Pakistan’s ability to attract technology investment and accelerate its digital transformation agenda.
Officials and stakeholders present at the event viewed the initiative as part of a broader effort to align Pakistan’s economic strategy with global technological trends, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and data-driven governance.
