������Ƶ

KARACHI: Pakistan can unlock billions in tech investment if it gives investors predictable taxes, friction-free remittances and a single digital compliance experience, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) said on Friday.

P@SHA said it presented a “Continuity & Consistency reform package” to the Ministry of Finance earlier this year, laying out a small number of high-impact changes that would slash compliance costs, bring tens of thousands of remote digital workers into the formal tax net, and catalyze both domestic and foreign investment into Pakistani tech firms.

The requested changes are not subsidies; they are predictability, digitalization, and administrative simplification. Most steps can be budget-neutral or revenue-positive once increased documentation, broadened compliance, and higher recorded export flows are taken into account.

“Every serious investor, local or international, asks the same two questions: What will my tax exposure be, and will the rules change after I invest?” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Syed said.

“Right now, innovators spend too much time navigating overlapping regimes and too little time building export-earning products. If we hard-code continuity and make compliance near effortless, capital will move to Pakistan.”

Pakistan tech firms have been demonstrating their growing potential in the IT sector by showcasing their products and services at global forums, including the LEAP tech conference in Riyadh and GITEX global exhibition in Dubai.

Pakistan recorded monthly IT exports of $338 million in June, up by 14% year on year and by 3% month on month, according to Karachi-based Toplines Securities brokerage and market research firm. This took Pakistan’s annual IT exports to $3.8 billion, up by 18% YoY, in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June.

In its statement, P@SHA urged continuation of the 10-Year Final Tax Regime (FTR) on information technology/IT-enabled services (IT/ITeS) export income, removal of discrepancies in tax rates where Pakistani IT companies get penalized for running payrolls from Pakistan, exemption of the Capital Gains Tax to secure investor’s confidence among other measures.

The association proposed joint working sessions with the Federal Board of Revenue, Ministry of IT & Telecom, State Bank of Pakistan, National Tax Council, and provincial revenue authorities to translate its proposed reforms package into draft language, digital filing flows, and phased rollout milestones, recommending immediate start of technical work.

“Pakistan stands at an inflection point: with its young talent base, global client footprint, and expanding startup ecosystem, the country can compete for high-value digital work, if investors trust the rules,” it said. “P@SHA urges policymakers to seize this moment to send that signal.”

KARACHI: Pakistan is planning to build Rs3 billion ($10.5 million) aquaculture park in the southern port city of Karachi, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Saturday, amid efforts to strengthen the country’s blue economy.

According to the World Bank, the blue economy is defined as sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving livelihoods and creating jobs, while preserving the ocean ecosystem health.

Pakistan has been pushing to modernize its port infrastructure and expand its role in regional trade by improving cargo handling, digitalizing port operations and encouraging public-private partnerships.

Speaking at a meeting to review progress on blue economy, Chaudhry said this new aquaculture park will be built on 120 acres and directed the Qur'angi Fish Harbor Authority to submit its report within 10 days.

“Pakistani coastal waters are very suitable for aquaculture,” he said in a statement shared by the maritime affairs ministry. “The project will be built under a public-private partnership and the park will boost seafood exports.

Pakistan’s fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June, according to official data. The exports were up 13.4 percent from $410.3 million in the previous year.

Authorities are currently trying to enhance the potential of Pakistan’s fisheries, logistics and marine services while reducing environmental harm.

“Investment in aquaculture and port infrastructure is essential for national development,” Chaudhry told representatives of Gwadar Port, Qur'angi Fish Harbor, Marine Fisheries and Balochistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the meeting.

“The same aquaculture model will be implemented in Balochistan as well.”

In May, the Pakistani government announced the creation of a new Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), saying it would serve as a specialized platform for uniting stakeholders from across the maritime spectrum to pursue greener policies and long-term economic resilience.

“This chamber will not only support investment and innovation in the maritime sector but also prioritize sustainability at ports, promote green technologies and foster carbon reduction strategies,” Chaudhry said at the time.