Subscribe to notifications Get the latest news and updates from Dawn ‘Pakistan needs to exploit IT potential’: industry leader

Pakis­tan needs to focus on specialised IT skills and international branding as there is significant potential for growth in this sector, said Saquib Ahmad, Country Managing Director SAP Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Bahrain. Talking to the media on Monday, he added that to unlock its full potential, Pakistan needs international branding of its IT sector to ensure seamless profit repatriation, expand data protection laws, and foster innovation to help boost investor confidence and global competitiveness. “However, the local as well as international IT companies and the freelancers were facing lack of cooperation from the authorities,” Mr Ahmad said, adding, “The international players always have the option to shift to Philippines or Africa, and the Pakistani government has to consider that inconsistent policies have long term serious consequences on the image of the country.”