ISLAMABAD: Sialkot has emerged as a key player in e-commerce trading, where 87% of Pakistan's total trade transactions are made by Chinese tech giants alone, primarily driven by wholesale business. Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that the government aims to become the primary buyer of local innovative tech products and wants Pakistan's large-scale industries to follow suit to support domestic tech SMEs.
Sialkot's Dominance in Digital Trade
During a ceremony, the minister revealed that 87% of Pakistan's total trade transactions on Alibaba originate from Sialkot, driven largely by wholesale business. This highlights the city's pivotal role in the country's digital economy.
Launch of National Incubation Centre Sialkot
Ignite, operating under the Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoITT), has signed an agreement with a Mobilink Bank-led consortium, including CyberVision International, to establish and operate the National Incubation Centre (NIC) Sialkot. This initiative aims to further strengthen Pakistan's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The IT minister, addressing the signing ceremony, said the partnership seeks to create a dedicated platform for technology-driven startups and innovative ventures in Sialkot, one of Pakistan's leading industrial and export hubs. The event was attended by senior ministry officials, Ignite, and Mobilink Bank representatives.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja remarked, "The establishment of NIC Sialkot reflects Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Digital National Pakistan vision. The government is fully committed to nurturing innovation and digital entrepreneurship across Pakistan by equipping young entrepreneurs with the right resources and opportunities."
Statements from Key Officials
Ignite CEO Muhammad Bilal Abbasi stated, "NIC Sialkot is another important milestone in Ignite's mission to strengthen Pakistan's startup ecosystem. The centre will help entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses while promoting technology adoption, industrial productivity, and export competitiveness."
Mobilink Bank President and CEO Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary said, "Pakistan's economic resilience demands broad-based participation – not growth concentrated in a few cities, but opportunity extended to small enterprises across the country. We believe innovation must be accessible, inclusive, and rooted in local business realities. Through NIC Sialkot, we are equipping entrepreneurs with mentorship, digital tools, financial solutions, and market access to scale with confidence."
Focus Areas of NIC Sialkot
While open to startups from all sectors, NIC Sialkot will particularly support ventures aligned with the city's industrial strengths, including sports technologies, healthcare and surgical technologies, manufacturing innovation, e-commerce, export-enabling solutions, and emerging digital industries.
