SAP, the German enterprise software company, is increasing its involvement in Pakistan’s expanding technology sector and sees the country’s young engineering base as a major strength in the region. Speaking with Business Recorder, Fahad Zahid, Interim Managing Director of SAP Pakistan, said the energetic and skilled talent pool gives the country an advantage at a time when startups, IT exporters and digital native businesses are building modern technology frameworks. Zahid, who has more than fifteen years of experience in the technology industry, noted that many Pakistani companies are pursuing digital first models and require reliable systems to support automation, governance and global ready operations. To address these needs, SAP offers GROW with SAP, a platform designed to support growth stage businesses with structured financial processes and scalable cloud capabilities.
Alongside supporting new digital ventures, the company is strengthening ties with Pakistan’s IT exporters and system integrators by collaborating on SAP Business Technology Platform. Through this collaboration, Pakistani partners are developing AI driven, automated and data focused solutions that can be deployed locally and in international markets. The momentum in the sector is reflected in Pakistan’s IT exports, which reached a record three point eight billion dollars in FY25. Monthly exports in October stood at an all time high of three hundred eighty six million dollars, marking a seventeen percent year over year increase and reinforcing the country’s rising global competitiveness. Zahid added that SAP is also prioritizing workforce development through initiatives such as the SAP Young Professionals Program and Digital Skills Initiative, with the goal of preparing the next generation of cloud and AI specialists.
Zahid explained that SAP’s strategy in Pakistan has shifted significantly as organizations move beyond traditional ERP deployments. Customers now expect technology partners to deliver intelligence across entire business processes, improve operational efficiency and support agile decision making. SAP is directing its focus toward cloud first and AI powered transformation, encouraging enterprises to adopt RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP as part of their modernization plans. Zahid stated that several customers are already seeing gains in areas such as forecasting, cost efficiency and customer experience. He added that Pakistan’s tech ecosystem has strong potential due to its founders, engineering talent and cost advantages, creating conditions that can shape the country into a regional technology hub. However, he mentioned that consistent policy measures and sustained investment will be essential to maximize this momentum.
SAP works with local incubators and accelerators to support emerging entrepreneurs, while its skills programs equip founders with knowledge required to build sustainable digital organizations. Zahid expressed confidence in the government’s Digital Pakistan agenda and said the country’s technology environment is expected to transform significantly in the coming years as reforms continue. He pointed out that interoperability and modern digital standards are steadily becoming core elements of national planning. Discussing the role of AI, Zahid said the technology is shifting into mainstream business operations and will become embedded in forecasting, planning, customer interaction and public services. With a strong and maturing developer base, he believes Pakistan is positioned to increase its presence in regional IT markets across the Middle East, Africa and other regions.
Pakistan’s recent traction in global tech discussions has intensified following Google’s decision to set up an office and establish an assembly line for its products in Haripur. Zahid sees this as a positive sign for the broader ecosystem, suggesting that interest from multinational companies reflects global confidence in Pakistan’s capabilities. However, he clarified that SAP does not intend to mirror Google’s hardware oriented strategy. Instead, the company will stay focused on strengthening the country’s digital foundation by expanding partner capabilities, scaling cloud and AI training, supporting co innovation on SAP Business Technology Platform and helping public institutions transition to secure cloud based systems. Zahid said SAP already supports mission critical operations across sectors such as utilities, manufacturing and government, forming a core digital layer that future innovation in Pakistan will build upon.
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