Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has elected Sajjad Syed as its new chairman during the annual general meeting recently held in Karachi.
This appointment marks the beginning of a two-year term aimed at further positioning Pakistan within the global digital economy.
The meeting also saw the election of new office bearers, with Muhammad Umair Nizam taking on the role of Senior Vice Chairman, Raheel Iqbal as Vice Chairman, and Muhammad Haris Naseer as Treasurer. P@SHA acknowledged the significant contributions of the outgoing leadership, particularly former chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan, for his exemplary service and landmark achievements over the past two years.
In his inaugural remarks, Sajjad Syed emphasized the association’s commitment to fostering innovation within the tech community. “We are dedicated to driving innovation, empowering our tech community, and positioning Pakistan at the forefront of the global digital economy,” he stated, acknowledging the high standards set by the previous leadership.
P@SHA’s newly elected leadership
The new office bearers include:
- Chairman: Sajjad Syed, Chairman of Excellence Delivered (ExD)
- Senior Vice Chairman: Muhammad Umair Nizam, Group Director at Ecommerce Gateway
- Vice Chairman: Raheel Iqbal, CEO of The Game Storm Studio
- Treasurer: Muhammad Haris Naseer, COO & Director of Business Operations at InfoTech Group
The newly elected CEC members are:
- Abdul Wahab Ahmad, Director at ABFA Technologies
- Hassan Bin Rizwan, CEO of Moonshot Animations
- Mohammad Munaf Majeed, CEO of Server4Sale
- Salman Dar, CEO of Itroos
- Sheikh Abdul Qadir, MD of IDRAK Ai
- Usman Akbar, CEO of Purelogics Group
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) highlighted P@SHA’s noteworthy accomplishments under Zohaib Khan, including a record high of IT exports at $3.2 billion and Pakistan’s first-time hosting of the APICTA awards. Other international achievements included gaining observer status at the Digital Corporation Organization (DCO) and strengthening ties with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Domestically, Khan’s tenure saw the resumption of IT export rewards after five years, the maintenance of a 0.25% corporate tax rate for three years, and the establishment of P@SHA offices in three major cities. The collaboration with various governmental and private sector entities was also instrumental in integrating IT as a preferential sector within the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
State Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima commended the efforts of the outgoing executive committee, expressing hope that the new leadership would continue to support the ministry as effectively as their predecessors.
The AGM was attended by key figures from the industry, including former P@SHA President Jehan Ara and former Chairman Naseer Akhtar, all of whom welcomed the newly-elected team.