In line with digital vision, PM Imran invites tech firms to invest in Pakistani youth

E-Paper | September 30, 2026

In line with digital vision, PM Imran invites tech firms to invest in Pakistani youth

Dawn.com Published January 22, 2020

Christian Klein expresses commitment in meeting with Prime Minister Imran on sidelines of WEF in Davos. — Photo from SAP website

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Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday met with several heads of digital and technology firms, including Christian Klein, the chief operating officer of SAP — a European software cooperation, Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube and Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens.

In the meeting held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Klein "expressed SAP's commitment to train young software engineers in Germany and using them for software development in Pakistan", a tweet from the Prime Minister's office said.

Klein made the comment after Prime Minister Imran offered SAP to establish software labs in Pakistan.

Adviser on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Special Adviser to Prime Minister Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Special Adviser to Prime Minister Dr. Moeed Yusuf and Ambassador at Large on Foreign Investment Ali Jehangir Siddiqui were also present in the meeting.

Prime Minister Imran is in Davos to attend this year's WEF. Earlier today, he spoke at the Pakistan Strategy Dialogue, where he said that Pakistan was considered one of the most dangerous places in the world when his government took over but that "we had decided to partner with peace".

According to the Foreign Office, the prime minister will speak to senior international media persons and editors during a session with the Forum’s international media council.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the WEF where political leaders, business executives, heads of international organisations and civil society representatives will deliberate on contemporary economic, geopolitical, social and environmental issues.

PM calls for Siemens to introduce skills training programmes in Pakistan

Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at Davos, on the sidelines of WEF.

Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, SAPM Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Ambassador at Large on Investments Ali Jehangir Siddiqui were also present.

While appreciating the long association of Siemens with Pakistan's energy sector, Prime Minister Imran stated that skills development of youth is among top priorities of the government. In this regard, the prime minister expressed his desire for Siemens to introduce high technology skills training programs for Pakistani engineers under the 'Hunarmand Jawan' programme.

The prime minister emphasised that skills development will ultimately lead to employment generation and economic growth in the country. He also invited Siemens to support Pakistani universities.

Prime Minister Imran also extended an invitation to the CEO of Siemens to visit Pakistan.

YouTube CEO meets PM Imran

Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube also called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Davos.

SAPM Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and Ambassador at large on Investments Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, Head of Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus were also present during the exchange.

According to a press release, discussions on utilising digital platforms for building Pakistan's image were held. The Pakistani entourage also discussed the possibilities of promoting tourism, education and attracting investment through digital platforms.

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Salman

Jan 22, 2020 05:09pm

I hope something comes out of this. Tapping into Pakistan's manpower potential would make a massive impact.

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Hwh

Jan 22, 2020 05:10pm

To achieve this goal you have to get out of the FATF list. So hope you will do your best sincerely to meet all the FATF conditions.

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wazir azhar mehdi

Jan 22, 2020 05:21pm

This act of IMK is appreciable ..NEXT world is techno

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jan 22, 2020 05:35pm

All tech firms are welcome to invest in the fertile land of 225 million potential greenshirt customers, clients and buyers except one country and you know which one?

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Fastrack

Jan 22, 2020 05:35pm

Imagine if he had enough votes to be free of old players' blackmail.

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yassar khan

Jan 22, 2020 05:36pm

Having worked for a number of American companies, it seems they have policy of not going to Pakistan. I strongly believe this determined by the American government policy.

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Mark

Jan 22, 2020 05:45pm

Tech firms need English educated n trained manpower.

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Khan

Jan 22, 2020 05:48pm

Pakistan IT talent can overtake American silicon valley anytime.

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Shahid

Jan 22, 2020 05:51pm

First and foremost, you need is streamlined platforms of 'truth', 'honesty', 'merit' and sense of 'responsibility' in all circles of society, including government, especially government. Can you imagine, shortage of wheat and flour in agriculture-badsed-and--rich Pakistan? Without truth, honesty, merit and responsibility, even CS, IT and AI will prove failuers, like everything else.

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Tariq Qureshi

Jan 22, 2020 05:54pm

With the USA everything Chinese do to increase their economy is bad, anything the IMF or world Bank does is perfect and helpful to the recipient country.

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Jan 22, 2020 05:57pm

Shocking how desperate the gov is - tweeting mere encounters at Davos with random people as victories is BS. These companies don’t just come on verbal invitations but realities on the ground ! Eg ease of doing business, supply of quality resource, economic and political stability, regulations etc, none of which seem to be working atm! There’s a reason why these companies go to India because they offer them all of the, we don’t! The biggest problem this gov has it does the ‘talk’ a lot but is not capable of walking the walk.

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Taimur

Jan 22, 2020 06:04pm

Hopefully the new projects by Siemens will not meet the same fate as some previously started excellent projects started by this company like TIP and CTI which were ruined due to the mismanagement by the government. PM should also take initiative to revive these factories which were even exporting telecom equipment.

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Khalid H. Khan

Jan 22, 2020 06:07pm

Well done IK, we proud of you.

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Shahbaz Ahmed Tarar

Jan 22, 2020 06:14pm

At least someone doing something for Pakistanis, and engaging himself to show the world positive face of Pakistan.

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Moth

Jan 22, 2020 06:20pm

That is the route towards success. I request prime minister IK to meet Google Microsoft and all big companies owners to open their Asia Head Office either in Karachi or Lahore or Islamabad. Timing is right -- inshallah our IK will succeed. Amin

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Chaman

Jan 22, 2020 06:21pm

I am sure he will request YouTube to show Kashmir videos

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Hwh

Jan 22, 2020 06:21pm

Majority of American and European companies are refusing even quote for projects in Pakistan. Forget about setting up a company there. Only China.

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Faisal Q

Jan 22, 2020 06:24pm

Please get flour first, Sugar, everything is getting costly.

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Simba

Jan 22, 2020 06:25pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, What tech firms do with fertile land? grow wheat?

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Jan 22, 2020 06:28pm

SAP is not going to start such business in pakistan, Mark my words. i am dealing in Automated Control systems (Merged with ERP at pyramids). This is because it requires a lot of Capital, Good institutions, sustainability and continuation of policies. Pakistan has youth but unfortunately not other resources. Pakistan was on good path during Early years of NS rule but not now.

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Upendra

Jan 22, 2020 06:41pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, wait everyone will come soon.

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Sriniwas

Jan 22, 2020 06:52pm

But if Pakistan wants to invite big and prominent tech companies, then IK will have to interact and woo some of the Indian CEOs too. Ane am sure they will respond in kind.

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yogi

Jan 22, 2020 07:23pm

why would they invest in Pakistan when they got India and China

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Anand Yesu

Jan 22, 2020 07:24pm

@IA, Makes sense. You will guys will take another decade to realize this.

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Anand Yesu

Jan 22, 2020 07:25pm

@Khalid H. Khan, What has been done ?

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Umesh

Jan 22, 2020 07:26pm

@Shahid, So well said.

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Victoria Gardezi

Jan 22, 2020 08:04pm

Not certain how this will work, but if Iman does not try nothing happens.

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Victoria Gardezi

Jan 22, 2020 08:05pm

@Salman, .. He is asking corporations to educate Pakistani youth.

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Vivek Lahore

Jan 22, 2020 08:21pm

Please improve the quality of the education at all levels. International companies will stand in que to recruit the students.

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joe

Jan 22, 2020 08:28pm

@Moth, request prime minister IK to meet Google Microsoft and all big companies owners to open their Asia Head Office either in Karachi or Lahore or Islamabad."" All these companies CEOs are Indians.

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Tariq

Jan 22, 2020 09:02pm

That’s the only way to come out of current economic problems. Plz give all the incentives to tech firm to invest in Pakistan.

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RIZ

Jan 22, 2020 09:30pm

Pakistan will become the new hub of tech companies.

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Cyrus

Jan 22, 2020 09:54pm

The path to economic success is Materials Science. Making export products of new materials. Nano Technology. Producing new materials at the sub atomic level.

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EEsan

Jan 22, 2020 10:08pm

@Khan, Only if you get out of the Kashmir valley.

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M. Afzal Riaz, MD

Jan 22, 2020 10:26pm

Great effort by Imran Khan. First PM , honest and doing effort for training and job. Shariffs and Zardari liked contracts to pocket millions of dollars. Crooks

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Pak_uk

Jan 22, 2020 10:27pm

Pakistan has massive potential in IT skilled people. @mark. Pakistani speak less English but ones who speak have far better accent and fluency than in neighbourhood.. I although admit that we are not as obsessed as they are.

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Jam

Jan 22, 2020 10:38pm

Does he knows anything about SAP, does he knows that it is an ERP not a coding language, only those get training on SAP whom are professional trainers / consultant to guide and implement SAP in organisations and train their human resource on it, hes is really clueless on all matters.

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Gary

Jan 22, 2020 10:47pm

Great Job PM.

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Justice

Jan 22, 2020 11:07pm

Too little.. Too late. It is hard catch up with countries like India, China and Mexico..

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Justice

Jan 22, 2020 11:10pm

Tech companies invest only when they feel the country is safe - both physical safety and political stability. More religious tolerance in the society is also required. IK should work on those first. The rest will follow naturally.

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fahimkhalil

Jan 22, 2020 11:46pm

This is the real kind of leadership required for Pakistan at the moment. Portraying the very best image of Pakistan & giving MASSIVE Confidence to the business world to invest in Pakistan.We are the nation of 22 Coror people with sheered passion of hard work, honesty and achieving excellence in the field.

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fahimkhalil

Jan 22, 2020 11:47pm

We have to follow up all the initiatives

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Vijay

Jan 23, 2020 12:11am

Hope it will work, AL-Hamdullilah !

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yussouf

Jan 23, 2020 12:55am

imran khan thinks that pak was in dumps ---and he fixed every thing/problem eith pakistani leaders is self praise

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Afzal khan

Jan 23, 2020 01:32am

@kp, really. Can you please identify the number of tech firms Nawaz Sharif's government attracted to Pakistan?

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SDA

Jan 23, 2020 02:12am

@Mark, Let me make ourselves clear, English is very well spoken in Pakistan. Better than people in our neighboring country. So this is no excuse for not doing business in Pakistan.

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MirzaCanada

Jan 23, 2020 02:37am

PTI government needs to invest in youths first to create a qualified generation on technology. If there is a presence of qualified people, foreign firms will come automatically.

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Khan

Jan 23, 2020 06:36am

We have more IT talent than American silicon valley

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Inquisitor

Jan 23, 2020 07:00am

But what about Jeff Bezos? The Amazon titan talked about investing $US1 billion in India but was rebuked by Modi and his accolytes. Sure India's population and economy makes it an obvious outpost choice for Amazon, but given the public slap, surely Pakistan should lay out the red carpet for the world's richest bussinesman!

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Amer

Jan 23, 2020 07:16am

Pakistan's software talent is second to none. Its just not marketed heavily like Indian firms or eastern european firms. Pakistan's key competencies are diverse Tech sector, women in Tech, and most importantly labor costs. If the government can make it easier for foreign companies to setup shop in PK, you can then leverage the labor cost and provide quality software consulting output and expand workforce.. Hence build your middle class. you will see silicon valley flocking to Karachi and other hubs..

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Zeenath

Jan 23, 2020 07:21am

But anyone coming?

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Ranjit Singh Dhillion

Jan 23, 2020 07:46am

@Chaman, YouTube is owned by Google.. which is headed by a Hindu of Indian origin..

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Mubashir Munir

Jan 23, 2020 08:15am

Good work by Imran Khan Pakistanis are very open hearted and talented people and by the passage of time shall improve themselves under the leadership OF Imran Khan

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Sairbeen plus.

Jan 23, 2020 08:34am

@Zeenath, That’s a million dollar question. Unless the hindrances are removed viz Lack for security, red tapism and corruption in every ministry, lack of power, water, nobody will take risk. First there should be good governance with stable government, then only, something is possible.

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Fredz

Jan 23, 2020 08:53am

@RIZ, wake up!! Smell some coffee brother.

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Fredz

Jan 23, 2020 09:02am

@Amer, same like your Karachi based EXACT??

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bega

Jan 23, 2020 09:23am

Will any company come for this knowing youtube is banned in Pakistan.

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Samuel

Jan 23, 2020 11:17am

@Tariq Qureshi, but US like to do biz with China. Why they don’t want pal Chinese biz

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Samuel

Jan 23, 2020 11:18am

@Khan, what is stoping them.

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Aamir

Jan 23, 2020 01:25pm

Great Step PM Imran Khan.

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Danish

Jan 23, 2020 05:14pm

@Upendra, quite sure those with the resources, are doing everything they can to leave. Even those screaming investments for Pakistan are either dual nationals or have a major chunk of their business interested outside Pakistan. You can’t encourage or prove to others that the country is good for investment, when most themselves know that is a lie, and business and investments needs at the very least stability and a continuation of policies. All of which this country and its people lack.

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desu

Jan 23, 2020 05:24pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, and you dont know who control those most of companies.. think it. forget it. SAP will never invest in pakistan

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