P@SHA elects new leadership

KARACHI: Pakistan’s IT association P@SHA elected Sajjad Syed as its new chairperson for a two-year period in the annual general meeting held in Karachi, paying tribute to the outgoing leadership for exemplary services and landmark achievements.

The new office bearers also took oath -- Muhammad Umair Nizam as senior vice chairman; Raheel Iqbal as vice chairman; and Muhammad Haris Naseer as treasurer.The newly elected chairperson said that the outgoing leadership, especially chairperson Muhammad Zohaib Khan, set the bar high for new office bearers. “We are committed that we will drive innovation and empower our tech community to position Pakistan at the forefront of the global digital economy,” he added.

The AGM noted that P@SHA recorded landmark achievements, both locally and globally, under the leadership of Zohaib Khan in the last two years.On the international level, the achievements included attaining all-time high IT exports at $3.2 billion, hosting APICTA awards in Pakistan for the first time, chairing the judging committee of APICTA for the first time from Pakistan, status for Pakistan as an observer at the Digital Corporation Organization (DCO), branding of Pakistan in 24 countries, positioning Pakistan uniquely in global events, including GITEX and LEAP, strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, signing MoUs with different countries, namely Bahrain, Brazil and Jordan, at the state level.

At the country level, a few of the notable services included the resumption of IT exports reward for IT companies after five years, the continuation of 0.25 per cent corporate tax for three years, the initiative of Techlift (a capacity-building program for IT industry), the establishment of P@SHA offices in three major cities, the partnership with HBL for streamline revenue, the addition of new member companies from 15 cities, 50 per cent retention allowance on foreign currency account, collaboration with government- and private-sector entities particularly with Tech Destination, Pakistan Software Export Board, Ministry of IT, Ignite, NADRA, etc, and incorporation of IT as the preferential sector in the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

State Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima lauded the services of the outgoing central executive committee under the chair of Zohaib Khan for effectively achieving various milestones for the industry in general and the ministry in particular, hoping that the new leadership should continue to support the ministry in the similar fashion.The AGM was attended by P@SHA members, including former president P@SHA Jehan Ara and former chairman Naseer Akhtar and other serving industry technocrats.