Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks at the Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum 2025 in Islamabad, April 29. (Source: PVT)

At the first DFDI Forum on April 29, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on foreign companies to invest in Pakistan and exchange technology to help the South Asian country improve its products and exports.

“We invite all of you, companies from North America, from Europe and other parts of the world to please come forward and support us, hold our hands” and show how to improve agriculture through modern technologies, how to increase exports…

With more than $700 million in investment commitments from both foreign and domestic investors, the Pakistani leader called it a "proud moment".

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government's commitment to facilitating investors through improving the ease of doing business, enhancing digital infrastructure and reforming regulations in line with global standards.

Affirming that digitalization remains a top priority in Pakistan's development agenda, Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of innovation, inclusion and technology as drivers of sustainable growth.

Organized by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication of Pakistan in collaboration with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), the DFDI Forum took place from April 29-30, with the participation of more than 400 delegates and over 200 information technology and telecommunication companies from over 30 countries.

Pakistan aims to bring together global policymakers to discuss frameworks for improving digital infrastructure and exports across the 16 DCO member countries. As the host of the DFDI, Pakistan wants to position itself as a “key hub for digital investments.”

Established in October 2020, DCO aims to strengthen international cooperation in the fields of innovation, empowerment and promoting the development of the digital economy. Member countries include Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan will assume the DCO chairmanship in 2026.