Pakistan successfully demonstrated its technological and national unity in a coordinated cyber defense operation, codenamed “Marka-e-Haq,” which involved a joint effort from the armed forces, government institutions, and the private sector, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja revealed.
According to a statement today, the minister disclosed the details while addressing participants of the 27th National Security Workshop at the National Defence University (NDU).
Speaking on ‘Pakistan’s IT Potential: Opportunities and Challenges,’ Khawaja underscored that the country’s digital sector is now a foundational asset for economic security, strategic resilience, and global competitiveness. The event was attended by members of national and provincial assemblies, entrepreneurs, and representatives from journalism and civil society.
The minister affirmed that digital transformation is firmly embedded within Pakistan’s national security and economic agenda, highlighting strong support from the Prime Minister, Field Marshal, the Federal Cabinet, and the SIFC. She stressed that a collaborative effort among federal and provincial governments, industry, and academia is advancing a future-ready digital ecosystem.
In a major development for the technology sector, Khawaja also announced that Google has officially completed its registration and formal requirements to establish an office in Pakistan. She described this as a significant breakthrough, noting a separate MoU has been signed with the tech giant to focus on advanced digital skills and capacity building for Pakistani talent.
Khawaja detailed the national framework guiding this digital shift, which includes “Tech-Destination Pakistan” for industry growth and “Digital Nation Pakistan” for enhancing the digital economy and governance. These are supported by the cross-cutting domains of telecom, cyber-security, and artificial intelligence.
The minister cited substantial growth in the nation”s digital infrastructure, which now includes 43 Software Technology Parks, a nationwide network of 85 incubators, and over 4,100 supported startups. She also pointed to specific programs like the Pakistan Startup Fund, which offers equity-free grants, and the BridgeStart initiative that sends local startups to international accelerators.
To bolster human capital, Khawaja mentioned the DigiSkills 3.0 program has trained 4.3 million individuals, and a new semiconductor initiative aims to train 7,200 chip-design professionals. Partnerships with major tech companies were also highlighted, including TikTok’s STEM Feed and Meta’s AI-in-Urdu program.
On the international front, Pakistan has actively promoted its digital vision at global forums such as LEAP Riyadh and GITEX Global, securing new partnerships and attracting over US$700 million in digital investments.
Elaborating on the “Marka-e-Haq” operation, the minister stated the victory was a “historic demonstration” of unity under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Shareef and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. She noted that the Ministry of IT, PTA, the armed forces, and leading private cyber experts collaborated to strengthen the country’s cyber defenses, with specialists delivering an exceptional performance that showcased Pakistan”s capabilities on the global stage.
Concluding her address, the minister reaffirmed the government”s commitment to transforming Pakistan into a modern, secure, and globally competitive digital nation.