ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in six priority areas of information technology, focusing on joint ventures, business partnerships, investment and access to international markets.
The agreement was reached during a Pakistan-Russia IT cooperation webinar, where officials and industry representatives from both countries discussed ways to turn government-level relations into practical business opportunities.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s IT capabilities, combined with Russia’s scientific and technological expertise, could create new opportunities for economic growth and strengthen the global competitiveness of both countries.
He was speaking as chief guest at the webinar held at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. The event was the third session of the Pakistan-Russia webinar series, organised by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) under the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication in collaboration with Moscow’s University of World Civilizations.
The discussions covered six priority areas: artificial intelligence and cloud computing; cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure; digital governance and digital public infrastructure; trade and investment in IT and IT-enabled services; digital skills and workforce exchange; and quantum computing.
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Ahsan Iqbal said technology had become an important driver of Pakistan’s economic transformation and offered significant opportunities to expand cooperation with Russia. He said the government’s national economic transformation plan, Uraan Pakistan, placed e-Pakistan among its five key priorities, with the target of taking the country’s economy to $1 trillion by 2035.
He said Pakistan was producing more than 75,000 IT graduates every year and aimed to develop one million artificial intelligence experts by 2030. Seven new AI centres were also being established to strengthen links between research, innovation and industry.
Highlighting Pakistan’s digital progress, the minister said the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) digital identity system had gained international recognition. He added that the country’s instant payment system, Raast, had processed 646 million transactions in a single quarter.
He said Pakistan could combine Russia’s strong scientific and engineering base with its own skilled workforce and experience in IT services to develop mutually beneficial projects in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital governance and other emerging technologies.
The minister urged technology companies from both countries to focus on commercially viable partnerships, joint solutions, market access and pilot projects. He said the success of the initiative would be measured by growth in trade, investment, innovation and employment opportunities.
He added that technology cooperation could open a new chapter in the longstanding relations between Pakistan and Russia.
The webinar was informed that Pakistan’s IT and telecom exports reached a record $4.6 billion in the financial year 2025-26, showing an increase of around 20% from the previous fiscal year. The sector is now looking to expand into new markets, build international partnerships and offer higher-value services.
Russian Deputy Minister for Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Bella Cherkesova delivered the keynote address from the Russian side. She highlighted opportunities for cooperation in policy, investment and emerging technologies under the Pakistan-Russia digital partnership.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said bilateral relations had entered a more mature and multi-dimensional phase, with technology and digital trade having the potential to become new pillars of economic cooperation.
He said the Pakistani embassy in Moscow would work with PSEB to help Pakistani companies explore business opportunities in the Russian market.
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PSEB Chief Executive Officer Faisal Jaddi outlined Pakistan’s IT capabilities and the proposed mechanism for commercial cooperation. He said the process should begin with identifying business opportunities, selecting relevant companies, agreeing on pilot projects and appointing dedicated focal persons on both sides.
He said partnerships often failed not because of a lack of interest but because of weak follow-up. PSEB aims to help participating companies move towards practical agreements by identifying clear business opportunities, suitable partners and the next steps, he added.
During the industry sessions, Russian software industry representative organisation RUSSOFT President Valentin Makarov and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Chairman Dr Shoaib Ahmed Khan discussed ways to establish structured partnerships between the two countries’ software industries and jointly deliver services.
Other participants reviewed opportunities for joint development in cybersecurity, enterprise software, fintech, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and advanced technologies, including potential business opportunities in Pakistan, Russia and third-country markets.
Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication Zarar Hashim Khan said the webinar had helped identify concrete business opportunities in cybersecurity, enterprise software, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Companies from both countries were ready to take the discussions forward, he added.
He said the Ministry of IT would help remove business barriers by providing market information, regulatory facilitation and effective representation of Pakistani companies in the Russian market. The ministry would also regularly review progress with PSEB and other relevant partners to help launch joint pilot projects at an early stage.
