Over 100 Pak IT firms participate in LEAP 2025

KARACHI: Over 100 Pakistani IT and IT-enabled service companies are showcasing their expertise at LEAP 2025, one of the world’s premier technology trade fairs, being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event marks Pakistan’s largest-ever participation at LEAP, with more than 1,000 delegates, including entrepreneurs, government officials, investors and speakers. State Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion at the event, highlighting the country’s strong presence. Pakistani IT firms are presenting cutting-edge solutions, forming strategic networks, and exploring joint ventures and investment opportunities in the kingdom.

Muhammad Umair Nizam, Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA), noted that Pakistani firms were attracting significant interest from international entities, resulting in several business deals at the trade fair. He emphasised that collaborative efforts by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Ministry of IT, and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) have fostered an environment conducive to growth in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) has also set up a help desk to facilitate the business registration of Pakistani companies, simplifying the process and enabling over 100 firms to establish themselves in the kingdom. Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s focus on AI, fintech, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and smart city solutions, presenting lucrative opportunities for Pakistani IT firms.

With LEAP serving as a gateway to the Middle East market, Pakistani companies are poised to expand their footprint in the region. Pakistan’s IT exports have already hit $1.53 billion in the first half of FY2024-25, with projections suggesting they could exceed $4 billion by year-end. Exports to Saudi Arabia alone surged to $50 million last year.