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November 5, 2026
Pakistan and Russia shortlisted joint tech projects in AI, cybersecurity and cloud at a PSEB webinar, as Islamabad targets digital exports. No deals were signed, but counterparts are named.
Pakistan and Russia are testing the ground for commercial technology partnerships, and Islamabad is pitching digital exports as a core engine of its $1 trillion economy ambition.
The talks took place on November 5 at a Pakistan-Russia technology webinar hosted by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Moscow’s University of World Civilizations, according to a planning ministry statement.
It was the third in a bilateral series and brought together officials, industry associations and technology firms from both countries.
Discussions covered six priority areas: AI and cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital governance, IT services trade, workforce development and quantum computing. Pakistani firms Ebryx and TMC sat down with Russia’s Positive Technologies and the Russian Quantum Center to explore joint solutions for Pakistan, Russia and third-country markets.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said digital development is one of five pillars of the URAAN Pakistan plan, which targets a $1 trillion economy by 2035. He urged companies to move past traditional cooperation and build joint ventures and globally competitive digital products.
Iqbal added that Pakistan produces over 75,000 IT graduates annually and aims to develop one million AI professionals by 2030, alongside seven new AI centers.
The pitch rests on momentum at home. The government says IT and telecom exports reached a record $4.6 billion in the fiscal year ending June 2026, up about 20 percent. Officials see Russia as one of several markets as Islamabad seeks to diversify export destinations and move into higher-value digital services.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, said bilateral ties have entered a more mature phase and that the Moscow mission will work with PSEB to open the Russian market to Pakistani firms.
PSEB CEO Faisal Jeddy signaled that follow-through is the real test. “Partnerships rarely fail for lack of intent; they fail for lack of follow-up,” he said. He promised each participating company a defined opportunity, a named counterpart and a clear next step.
IT Secretary Zarrar Hasham Khan said the talks produced a shortlist of potential projects in cybersecurity, enterprise software, AI and cloud computing, with the ministry working on regulatory hurdles and market intelligence.
The caveat matters: no commercial agreements or investment commitments were announced. The talks also build on earlier Russian offers, including a proposal on cybersecurity cooperation to protect Pakistan’s energy infrastructure, reported in April. Whether the shortlist turns into signed contracts is now the story to watch.
