Hajra Naz
Pakistanโs largest technology awards are making a comeback this month, as the HBL P@SHA ICT Awards 2025 prepare to recognize the countryโs brightest innovators and entrepreneurs. The annual ceremony, now in its 21st year, will be held on September 19, continuing a tradition that has helped put Pakistanโs IT industry on the global map.
The awards are organized by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), the representative body for the IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) sector. For more than two decades, P@SHA has used the platform to celebrate achievements in technology and highlight the industryโs potential to drive Pakistanโs economy forward.
This yearโs event will be highlighted by 10 main award categories and 41 subcategories, representing a broad range of sectors. The full scale of activity within the industryโfrom scrappy startups and e-commerce ventures to major IT exporters and cross-industry innovationsโwill be recognized. The entries will be evaluated by a jury of international experts to ensure that the winners are aligned with global standards of excellence.
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The ceremony will have Federal IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja as its Chief Guest, a presence that underscores the governmentโs backing of the industry.
P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed stressed that the awards remain open to everyone. โThereโs no application fee. Whether youโre a student, a startup, a large exporter, or a woman entrepreneur, you can apply in the relevant category,โ he said, pointing to inclusivity as one of the eventโs biggest strengths.
The recognition is not limited to the national level. Pakistan will be represented at the Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2025 in Taiwan by the winners and runners-up. Strong performances have been delivered by Pakistani teams at the APICTA stage in recent years, with 10 wins achieved in 2024 alone, placing the country among the top five nations worldwide for IT achievements.
The timing of the awards comes as Pakistanโs IT exports continue to grow. In just five years, the industryโs exports have surged from $1.4 billion in FY20 to $3.8 billion in FY25, marking consistent double-digit growth.
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But ambitions are much higher. The government, through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), has set a target of $15 billion in IT exports by FY30. Experts, however, note that hitting that figure will require steady policies: a predictable taxation framework for the next decade, relaxed foreign exchange regulations for IT firms, and a more investment-friendly economic environment overall.
As the stage is set for this yearโs event, the HBL P@SHA ICT Awards are once again expected to shine a spotlight on the sectorโs achievementsโand remind both policymakers and the public that Pakistanโs tech industry is not just surviving, but thriving.
