A sovereign digital-investment forum, hosted at scale.

The Pakistan Software Export Board, operating under the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication, set out to convene Pakistan's first dedicated Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum — a high-level platform combining policy-level dialogue with deal-making for the country's digital economy. The mandate was to design and deliver the inaugural edition in close strategic partnership with the Digital Cooperation Organization, with the Forum positioned to attract foreign capital into Pakistan's technology sector and to anchor the country's role as a regional digital convener.

Naqeebz Consulting was selected through a competitive bid under PPRA regulations. The mandate spanned the full delivery chain: forum architecture, content programming, delegate acquisition and protocol, brand and creative system, on-ground execution across multiple venues, integrated media strategy, and the post-event institutional record.

Beyond the two days at the Jinnah Convention Centre, the engagement also tasked Naqeebz Consulting with operationalising the Forum's transition into a dedicated DFDI Secretariat at PSEB — the institutional layer that planned, delivered, and handed off the Forum across a sustained engagement window.

Across the engagement, Naqeebz Consulting designed and executed the following:

• Forum architecture and programmingacross two days, four thematic tracks (Digital FDI Vision, the Digital Skills Ecosystem, the Evolving Investment Landscape, and Collaboration in Telecom, Tech & IT), six panel discussions, and the Ministerial Roundtable Conference
• Bilateral coordination with the Digital Cooperation Organization Secretariat in Riyadhthroughout the engagement, aligning forum branding, agenda architecture, protocol standards, and execution sequencing across the DCO's institutional framework and Pakistan's hosting requirements
• Established and operated the dedicated DFDI Secretariat at PSEB across a 5.5-month sustained engagement (January 2025 to mid-June 2025), spanning pre-event planning, on-event execution, and a 45-day post-event extension at client request
• Delegation acquisition and protocol for 134 international participants from 40+ countries, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers from Gambia, Djibouti, Iran, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uganda; Ambassadors from Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Nepal, Syria, Jordan, Qatar, and China; and 34 international CEOs
• Brand and creative systemfor the Forum, including the “Tech Destination Pakistan: Invest, Innovate & Thrive” campaign architecture deployed across digital, OOH, and broadcast channels
• B2B and bilateral facilitation through a structured matchmaking system at the venue, resulting in 15 formal high-impact meetings and a reported USD 1 million investment commitment emerging from a bilateral conversation between Bablworld and Pakistani principals
• Startup and IT ecosystem showcase featuring 26 Pakistani startups across healthtech, agritech, generative AI, edtech, and fintech, alongside nine leading IT exporters including 10Pearls, Arbisoft, Netsol Technologies, Systems Limited, and TPS Worldwide
• Integrated media strategy delivering reach of 1.2 billion+ impressions across OTT platforms, broadcast television (166.5 minutes across 25+ channels), digital advertising, and international print
• Operational coordination through 60+ trained student ambassadors, full delegate logistics, and round-the-clock multi-language support
• Institutional record through a 41-page Post Event Report submitted to PSEB and onwards through the chain of accountability to MoITT

“The Forum showcased Pakistan's immense potential in digital infrastructure, AI, cloud, and robotics. I consider Pakistan among the top three global investment destinations for broadband and data centers.”

Carlo Maria Rossotto — Principal Investment Officer, Global Head of Upstream Telecom Media Technology, International Finance Corporation

“This Forum revealed Pakistan's untapped potential. We aim to deepen ties through capacity-building, tech exchange, and MoUs. There's great scope for collaboration across OIC and DCO frameworks.”

H.E. Mr. Lamin Jabbi — Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, The Gambia

“A transformative experience. The Forum facilitated USD 686 million in commitments and revealed Pakistan's cost-effective, skilled talent pool. We're excited to return in 2026 as Pakistan assumes DCO Presidency.”

Naeem Mirza — CEO, Artificial Intelligence Doctrine, Canada

The DFDI Forum 2025 established the institutional foundations for Pakistan's expanded role in the global digital economy. Pakistan is positioned to assume the Presidency of the Digital Cooperation Organization in 2026, with the DFDI Forum 2026 already in preparation as the next iteration of the platform.

Beyond the immediate USD 700M+ in investment commitments, the Forum opened bilateral channels with delegations from Gambia, Iran, Türkiye, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, and others — many of which have continued through subsequent diplomatic and commercial engagement. Five of the 26 startups showcased entered funding negotiations after the Forum; seven foreign investors confirmed follow-up engagement.