Pakistan, Türkiye strengthen ties in technology, digital growth

February 06, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan and Türkiye reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in IT, telecommunications, and digital transformation during a meeting between the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunications (MoITT) and Turkish Ambassador H.E. Irfan Nezioglu.

The meeting, attended by Secretary IT&T Zarrar Hasham Khan and Special Secretary IT&T Azfar Manzoor, focused on expanding collaboration in emerging technologies and digital infrastructure.

Ambassador Nezioglu acknowledged Pakistan’s support during Türkiye’s recent earthquake and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation amid global challenges. He also announced that the Turkish President will visit Pakistan next week.

Highlighting Türkiye’s digital transformation efforts, Ambassador Nezioglu shared insights on the country’s 67 million e-state users, 8,000 digital services, technoparks, private IT firms, and advancements in 5G and AI.

He remarked, “Effort brings rewards, as Allah has said,” and stressed the importance of leveraging Pakistan’s young talent to drive technological progress.

He also identified shared interests in IT and telecom between the two nations, according to the press release issued today.

Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized the need for stronger tech collaboration, reaffirming the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB)'s commitment to global partnerships.

She commended Türkiye's advancements in e-governance and highlighted Pakistan's Digital Nation Bill, which aims to boost economic growth, enhance e-governance, and establish a robust digital identity framework.

She also underscored B2B opportunities between Pakistan’s National Information Technology Board (NITB) and Türkiye’s TurkSat, emphasizing the need to prioritize skills over degrees in the evolving digital economy.

To further IT cooperation in 2025, Ambassador Nezioglu proposed appointing focal persons from both countries to develop a strategic roadmap, advocating for direct ministry and industry engagements beyond formal visits.

Both sides agreed to expand partnerships in IT, 5G, AI, and digital transformation, strengthening Pakistan-Türkiye relations in the digital era.

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