Pakistan envoy seeks shift from counterterrorism to IT ties with US
Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said Pakistan wants to move its relationship with Washington from counterterrorism to information technology, describing the shift from "CT to IT" as the goal that would yield a mutually rewarding partnership.
Speaking at Pakistan-US Tech Connect 2026 in Washington, hosted by the embassy with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, OPEN Global and the Pakistan Software Export Board, the ambassador said the forum aimed to display the "best and brightest" of the Pakistani tech industry directly to stakeholders in the US capital. The statement, issued on Thursday, said senior leadership from 16 Pakistani companies in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, fintech and healthcare technology met American counterparts.
The forum was designed as an executive networking event to unlock partnerships across enterprise solutions, digital transformation, product development and strategic IT collaboration. Attendees included Sindh Governor Syed Nehal Hashmi, representatives of major US technology and financial firms, multilateral institutions, government agencies and the Pakistani American business community, according to the statement.
Hashmi urged the delegation to convert digital capabilities into tangible outcomes, including qualified business opportunities, pilot projects and high-value contracts, saying US enterprises seek partners able to deliver long-term value. PSEB chief executive Faisal Jeddy, Ignite chief executive Bilal Abbasi and OPEN Global DC chapter president Hassan Khalid cited the expansion of Pakistan's technology sector, noting the country offers technical talent while the US offers market opportunities.
Panel discussions addressed a shift away from routine IT services and labour arbitrage towards proprietary intellectual property and scalable product innovation. Curated business-to-business sessions sought to convert Pakistan's IT export capacity into commercial relationships.
