Conference Agenda – ITCN ASIA

Tuesday, 22 September 2026

Morning programme · 10:00–13:00: The inaugural

Timings

CoNFERENCE

10:30–11:00

Registration & Networking

11:00–11:10

Welcome address Mr. Muhammad Umair Nizam, CEO, ITCN Asia

11:10–11:20

Virtual global vision keynote

H.E. Deemah Al-Yahya, Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)

11:20–11:25

From Pakistani Capability to Global Contracts: Unlocking the U.S. Public Sector Market

Mr. Farhan Esar Shah, Founder and CEO, Collab P

11:25–11:30

Powering Pakistan’s AI and Technology Economy Through Special Technology Zones

Mr. Azfar Manzoor, Chairman, Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA)

11:30–11:35

NTC’s Role in Building Pakistan’s Secure, Connected and Intelligent Digital Future

Maj. Gen. (R) Ali Farhan, HI(M), Managing Director, National Telecommunication Corporation

11:45–11:50

Responsible AI, Regulation and Pakistan’s Digital Future

Mr. Mohammad J. Sear, Vice Chairperson, Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA)

11:50–11:55

Connecting the Unconnected: Expanding Digital Opportunity Across Pakistan

Mr. Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Service Fund

11:55–12:25

The Digital Corridor High Level Dialogue: Building Product Nations in the AI Economy Discussion lead:

Mr. Hamza Saeed Orakzai, Chief Market Development Officer, STZA

Featured contributors:
Global investment — Mr. Baybars Altuntas, Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)
Digital finance transformation — Mr. Areiel Wolanow, Managing Director, Finserv Experts
Sustainable entrepreneurship and enterprise development — Dr. Wael Bedda, Secretary General, SKSEED
Creative economy growth — Ms. Zeba Qureshi, Senior Strategist, YouTube, TikTok, Amazon Web Services and BBC Global
Global talent and workforce mobility — Mr. Daniel Gautsch, Implementation Manager, EU–Talent Partnership Pakistan, GIZ Pakistan

12:25–12:30

From Services to Products: Powering Pakistan’s Next Chapter of Technology Exports

Mr. Faisal Jeddy, CEO, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB)

12:30–12:40

Chief Guest Address: Sindh’s Digital Future — Innovation, Investment and Inclusive Growth

Mr. Muhammad Ali Rashid, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Science and Information Technology, Government of Sindh

12:40–12:50

Presentation of mementos to distinguished guests and partners

13:00

Networking

Afternoon programme · 1:45 PM – 5:10 PM

Pakistan Investor Summit 2026 – by NIC Karachi

13:45

VIP Registration

14:00

Investor Meet and Greet

14:30

Ceremonial Opening

Recitation of the Holy Quran and National Anthem

14:35

Opening Vision and Summit Remarks

Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director, NIC Karachi

14:45

Startup Spotlight: Find My Doctor

Saad Siddiqui

14:55

Ecosystem Spotlight: From Vision to Cohort

Mishaal Khan, Head of Program, NIC Sialkot

15:05

Global Featured Address

Global Angel Capital: Positioning Pakistani Startups for International Investment Mr. Baybars Altuntas, Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)

15:15

Global Featured Address

FinTech as an Investment Catalyst: Powering Pakistan’s Next Digital Economy Mr. Areiel Wolanow, Managing Director, Finserv Experts

15:20

Investor Panel: Where Smart Capital Is Going

Saif Ali, Founder, Dastak Ventures
Ahsan Jabbar, Executive Director, The Oasis Group / Seasonal
Kashaf Jamal, Vice President, Investments and Monitoring, Fatima Gobi Ventures
Athar Khan, Managing Director, Happy Palace Group of Schools

15:55

Industry Address

Faysal Ghauri, Chief Digital Officer, Tracking

16:15

Startup Investment Showcase

Pitches cover problem, solution, traction, market and investment ask.
Ezee Technologies & Ezee Insure; Tawha Technologies / Lendverse; Saheli; Three Shelves; Beecortex; Osquare; Safirrah; Two Rings Global

16:45

Global Featured Address

Dr. Wael Eldesouki Bedda, Secretary General, SKSEED (Saleh Kamel Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development)

16:50

Technology Spotlight

The Agentic AI Era Is Here: Build It. Trust It. Scale It
Mr. Kashif Ul Haque, Country Head, Cisco Pakistan

16:55

Regional Investment Spotlight

Gilgit-Baltistan’s Digital Investment Potential: Connectivity, Innovation and Regional Growth
Mr. Zameer Abbas, Secretary IT, Gilgit-Baltistan

17:10

Closing Remarks and Networking

QR code for pitch decks and deal room; refreshments

Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Full-day programme · 10:00–17:00

Timings

CoNFERENCE

10:30 – 10:40

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Host opens the session, sets the ground rules and invites the Chief Market Development Officer to open the conference.

Hamza Saeed Orakzai · Chief Market Development Officer, Special Technology Zones Authority

10:40 – 11:35

Panel 1 The Skills That Survive

What AI changes about careers, and what Pakistan should be learning now. Guided discussion and audience Q&A.

Muhammad Saad · Panel Moderator, Special Technology Zones Authority

Faisal Jeddy · Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Software Export Board

Kamran Kamal · Chief Executive Officer, Hub Power Company Limited

Muhammad Ilyas · Head of CDIS (Cloud, Digital Infrastructure & Security), Systems Limited

Hamza Khokhar · Chief AI Officer, Jazz World

11:35 – 11:45

Shields and Photograph

STZA presents to the Panel 1 speakers and moderator.

11:45 – 11:55

Changeover

Panel 2 seated, audience resettled.

11:55 AM – 12:50 PM

Panel 2 The Machines Behind the Work

Investing in Pakistan’s computing infrastructure, and getting institutions to adopt it. Guided discussion and audience Q&A.

Ashhar Naeem · Panel Moderator, Special Technology Zones Authority

Hassan Abbas · Chief Executive Officer, Sky47 Limited

Brig. Syed Nadir Hussain Shah · Project Director, IT&T, SIFC

Rumman Dar · Chief Executive Officer, Indus Cloud

Atif Mahmood Tahir · Chief Operating Officer, Multinet Pakistan

12:50 – 12:55

Shields and Group Photograph

STZA presents to the Panel 2 speakers and moderator. Group photograph with all speakers.

12:55 – 1:00

Closing Remarks

Closing remarks and vote of thanks to the speakers, partners and guests. Host ends the session.

Javaid Iqbal · Member Licensing and Technology, Special Technology Zones Authority

1:00

Refreshments and Networking

All guests, speakers and delegates.

Thursday, 24 September 2026

Full-day programme · 10:00–17:00

Timings

CoNFERENCE

10:30 – 10:55

Registration

11:00 – 11:30

Opening Session

Recitation of Holy Quran
National Anthem of Pakistan
Welcome Remarks by FPCCI President – Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh
Opening Remarks by ICCD – Director IRD – Ms. Aalia Jafar
Speech by Guest of Honor – Secretary-General of SKSEED – Dr. Wael Bedda

11:30 – 11:45

Spotlight Session: Women’s Empowerment in the Creative Industries: Trends, Challenges and Prospects

Presented by: Ms. Semiha Abdullah, Coordinator – Partnerships and Technical Cooperation Division (SESRIC)

11:45 – 11:50

Remarks by Secretary-General of Maida Nazir Organization for Women’s Economic Empowerment – Ms. Natavan Mammadova

11:50 – 11:55

Keynote Speech by Workshop Sponsor: Mr. Arshad Shaiq, Director Operations, Pakistan Cables Limited

12:00 – 01:00

Workshop 1: The Future of Work in Cultural and Creative Industries

Organizer: OIC Labour Centre

Opening Remarks: Mr. Akshin Vahabzada, PR & Communications Officer, OIC-LC

Workshop Trainer: Ms. Sonal Dhanani, Founder of Parindey Wellbeing & Development

Foundation (Pakistan)

01:00 – 01:45

Workshop 2: Digitalization & AI in the Creative Economy

Organizer: Saleh Kamel Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development

(SKSEED)

Workshop Trainer: Dr Wael Bedda, SG SKSEED (Egypt)

01:45 – 01:55

Vote of Thanks By ICCD

B2B MEETINGS (BY REQUEST)

2:30 – 3:00

Arrival and networking

3:00 – 3:10

Tilawat e Quran and National Anthem

3:10 – 3:20

Opening keynote

Ammar Jaffri — Founder, Digital Pakistan Vision 2047

3:20 – 3:35

Fireside chat with Dr. Imran Batada

Dr. Imran Batada — Chief Digital Officer, IoBM; author, Digital Pakistan. Moderator: Saira Batada

3:35 – 4:10

AI panel discussion

Moderator: Dr. Imran Batada — Chief Digital Officer, IoBM.
Panelists: Ayaz Ahmed Uqaili — Member, IT Industry Development, Science and IT Department, Government of Sindh; Jamil Ur Rehman — Senior General Manager IT and Chief Technology Innovation Officer, SSGC; Zia ur Rehman — General Manager, Hikshah Enterprise Private Limited; Ahaan Batada — Gen Alpha Voice in AI and Cybersecurity (organization not provided).

4:15 – 4:55

Cybersecurity keynote and panel discussion

Moderator: Ammar Jaffri — Founder, Digital Pakistan Vision 2047. Panelists: Hussein Hassanali — Advisor, Tech Consulting; Dr. Mohammed Junaid — PhD, Cybersecurity; Mehzad Sehar — CISO, Visionary Group; Dr. Shaheer Waqar — President, 3D Group; Adv. Moosa Lakhani — Assistant Professor, Bahria University.

5:00 – 5:35

UN SDGs 2030 session

Moderator: M A Jinnah — Project Director, SDGs, and Head of Department, Digital Technology and ICT, The Hunar Foundation. Panelists: Majida Khursheed — Regional Head, Women’s Wing, The Hunar Foundation; Ebrahim Saifuddin — Head of Chambers, ESLA; Faisal Sheikh — CEO, Beehives; Engr. Zeeshan Jawed — Coordinator, Korangi SDGs; Dr. Fizza Muslim — Coordinator, GM SDGs.