SAP urges Pakistan to embrace digital transformation

KARACHI: Industry leaders in the IT sector emphasized that while artificial intelligence (AI) may eliminate many traditional jobs, it will simultaneously create new opportunities requiring a deep understanding of AI technologies.

This was said during a press briefing at a local hotel on Thursday. The experts included Country Director SAP Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bahrain Saquib Ahmad; Director Large Enterprise, SAP Bahrain and Pakistan Fahad Zahid; and Director Midmarket & New Business, SAP Pakistan, Iraq, Bahrain, and Afghanistan Shamuel Ali.

“If we do not update ourselves with the latest technology, our jobs are under threat,” Saquib Ahmad stressed during the event. SAP celebrated its Innovation Day by showing how businesses can integrate AI into their operations, especially within the Pakistani market.

SAP’s leadership shared that out of the top 100 companies worldwide, 95 use SAP’s innovative software. Sixty-two governments of UN member countries run SAP systems. In Pakistan, the federal budget is prepared using SAP software while several private companies in sectors such as cement, automotive, and oil & gas utilize SAP modules to optimize their operations.

For more than a decade, SAP has actively contributed to the digital transformation of Pakistan’s public and private sectors. The company offers a broad range of solutions customised for industries like energy, manufacturing, banking, telecommunications, and government.

SAP’s initiatives not only focus on industry transformation but also on building the capacity of the youth to equip them with skills necessary for future jobs in the IT sector.In Pakistan, SAP plays a significant role in the digitalization efforts of large enterprises such as K-Electric, Tapal Tea, and MacPac, helping them implement AI-driven solutions for enhanced decision-making, supply chain optimisation, and sustainability initiatives.

The company has also partnered with public sector organisations to modernise infrastructure, enhance citizen services, and promote financial inclusion.Several public-sector institutions, including the Ministry of Finance & Revenue, all major power distribution companies (DISCOs), Pakistan Railways, and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), rely on SAP solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery to the public.

Through strategic collaborations with local technology partners and educational institutions, SAP focuses on empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enhancing the skills of the local workforce, positioning Pakistan for growth in the global digital economy.

Ahmad also revealed that Pakistan is one of the few countries where SAP provides free training on its basic modules. SAP has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance for improving the operations of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).