Comment by Riaz Haq 21 hours ago

Profit
@Profitpk
Since 2022, Pakistan has built more genuine economic infrastructure than at almost any point in recent history: an instant payments system moving Rs23.3 trillion a quarter, a record $4.6 billion in IT exports, freelancer earnings up 78 percent to $1.76 billion, SME bank financing up 46 percent in a single year, and a Prime Minister personally signing digital trade agreements with Alibaba that are already putting thousands of Pakistani sellers in front of global buyers. Manufacturing clusters from Sialkot to Faisalabad continue to anchor billions of dollars in exports on their own. This is a strong, government built foundation. What follows is not a critique of that record. It is the case for its logical next phase.

With payments, remittances, and digital trade are running at record scale, it is high time to give all seven million of the country's SMEs, factories and freelancers alike, the same rails, and why 2026 is the moment to finish the job. This week’s visual investigation lays out the blueprint:

https://x.com/Profitpk/status/2080198773888721350?s=20

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Profit Magazine is Pakistan's leading business and economic publication, frequently covering the country's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), financial markets, and economic growth indicators. [1, 2]
Key Economic and SME Insights
SME Contribution: Pakistan's estimated 5.2 to 7.14 million small and medium enterprises contribute roughly 40% to the national GDP and account for over 30% of exports. [1, 2]
Employment: The SME sector drives close to 80% of all non-agricultural employment in the country. [1, 2]
Financing Updates: State Bank of Pakistan data indicates SME financing reached Rs 853.94 billion, with active borrowers expanding significantly. [1]
Formalization: Programs via the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) target better access to finance and digital registration portals for business growth.

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/07/21/pakistan-already-bui...

Pakistan Already Built Half the Operating System
Payments, remittances, and digital trade are running at record scale. This is the blueprint for giving all seven million of the country's SMEs, factories and freelancers alike, the same rails, and why 2026 is the moment to finish the job.
By Faizan Siddiqi

Comment by Riaz Haq 20 hours ago

PM, CDF inaugurate AI cloud Sky47 Karakorum-01 data centre - Pakistan - Business Recorder

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40431730

With an initial capacity of 8.5 megawatts, Sky47 Karakorum-01 has been developed as a carrier-neutral, AI-ready digital infrastructure platform designed to support advanced computing requirements.

The facility includes sovereign cloud architecture and enterprise-level security systems aimed at enabling the storage and management of sensitive national data within Pakistan.

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said the newly inaugurated Sky47 Karakorum-01 Data Centre would strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure, improve data security and support the expansion of emerging technologies.

The facility, jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, was described by officials as the country’s largest artificial intelligence-ready data centre.

Officials said the facility would help expand digital infrastructure, secure critical data and increase computing capacity to meet the growing requirements of artificial intelligence technologies.

Speaking at the ceremony, the prime minister said the facility represented a major investment in Pakistan’s technological development and reflected cooperation among national institutions. “Where there is determination, there is always a way forward,” he said, adding that the completion of the project showed Pakistan’s ability to undertake large-scale national initiatives.

He said the facility would support artificial intelligence applications, high-performance computing and secure data management, while contributing to the country’s digital transformation efforts. He urged government institutions to integrate their systems with the new infrastructure and utilise its capabilities.

With an initial capacity of 8.5 megawatts, Sky47 Karakorum-01 has been developed as a carrier-neutral, AI-ready digital infrastructure platform designed to support advanced computing requirements.

The facility includes sovereign cloud architecture and enterprise-level security systems aimed at enabling the storage and management of sensitive national data within Pakistan.

Officials said the centre would provide secure infrastructure for government organisations, businesses and technology companies, while reducing reliance on external data-hosting facilities.

The launch comes as countries around the world continue to expand computing capacity and develop infrastructure required for artificial intelligence applications. Data centres have become an important part of the digital economy, supporting government services, financial systems and emerging technologies.

Prime Minister Sharif said similar facilities would be established in Karachi and Lahore to further expand the country’s digital ecosystem.

He also acknowledged the contributions of ZTE, a Chinese telecommunications and information technology company, the Ministry of Information Technology and other stakeholders involved in developing and completing the facility.

He highlighted the role of national coordination in completing the initiative and referred to Marka-e-Haq as an example of how collective efforts could help overcome major challenges.

Sky47 Karakorum-01 is expected to provide additional computing and data infrastructure as Pakistan seeks to expand its digital economy and strengthen its position in the global technology landscape.

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