KARACHI: The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has released a detailed white paper calling for a 24-month roadmap to tackle structural inequities in Pakistan’s technology sector, warning that gaps in inclusion could limit the industry’s long-term competitiveness.
Titled ‘Driving Inclusive Growth in Pakistan’s Tech Sector: From Policy to Practice’, the paper argues that inclusion is now a core economic requirement rather than a social add-on.
Based on discussions from the Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable hosted by P@SHA at ITCN Asia 2025, the report notes that while the tech sector has become a key driver of economic growth, it continues to fall short in representation across gender, disability and ethnic lines. These gaps, it says, weaken the sector’s ability to build a resilient and future-ready digital economy.
The study assesses barriers faced by underrepresented groups across the education-to-employment pipeline, highlighting challenges in curriculum relevance, workplace design and access to opportunities for persons with disabilities and religious minorities.
It stresses that addressing these issues is essential to unlocking the full depth of Pakistan’s talent pool.
P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed said the sector must move beyond symbolic commitments towards practical reforms. He said Pakistan’s tech industry could not sustain its global ambitions if large segments of potential talent remained excluded, adding that inclusion was a business-critical need.
He noted that the white paper offers a clear framework to embed international standards, including ISO 30415, into organisational practices.
The document outlines an implementation roadmap for government, industry and academia, recommending measures such as a voluntary Diversity Pledge for organisations and targeted policy interventions to improve leadership representation and inclusive workplace environments. It also highlights successful community-based education models that have helped marginalised groups enter the digital workforce.
P@SHA has urged the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and private-sector leaders to endorse the proposed agenda, saying a diverse and equitable tech sector is essential to meeting export targets and attracting foreign investment.
