ISLAMABAD: Pakistan inaugurated its national pavilion at Expand North Star 2025 in Dubai on Sunday, showcasing ten of the country’s most promising start-ups at the region’s premier technology and innovation gathering.
Held at the Dubai Harbor from Oct. 12 to 15, Expand North Star brings together start-ups, investors, and global innovators from more than 100 countries. Pakistan’s presence this year, under Ignite — National Technology Fund, underscores the country’s growing role in the global digital economy. The fund is a public-sector organization under Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT).
The Pakistan Pavilion was inaugurated by Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s envoy to the UAE, along with Rafique Ahmed Buriro, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of IT & Telecom and CEO of Ignite, and other officials.
Speaking on the occasion, Tirmizi highlighted the remarkable growth of Pakistan’s IT exports to the UAE, which reached $376 million in fiscal year 2024–25. He added that Pakistan’s overall IT exports had surpassed $3.76 billion, reflecting the country’s expanding global technology footprint.
“The participation of Pakistani startups at Expand North Star 2025 reflects our government’s vision to empower youth through technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” Buriro was quoted as saying in a statement.
