ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday launched Quantum Valley Pakistan, under the theme “Shaping Pakistan’s Innovation and Technology Future,” describing it as the beginning of a new journey towards development and a new direction for Pakistan.
Distinguished guests, including Tim Rowe, CEO of Cambridge Innovation Centre (CIC); Dougan Sherwood, Partner at CIC; and Seena Amidi, Managing Partner at Plug and Play, participated in the launch ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, the minister said Pakistan needed to build an innovation - and knowledge-driven economy.
“Today is not merely the inauguration of a project; it marks the beginning of a new direction for Pakistan’s future,” he said.
He described the launch as a proud moment and said the initiative would help connect Pakistani youth with global centres of innovation and technology.
Ahsan Iqbal said the centre of power in the 21st century was no longer physical strength but intellectual and creative capability. Countries possessing the best ideas and the ability to transform those ideas into products would move ahead in the global economy, he added.
He said Pakistan’s nuclear programme had also started at a time when no country was ready to support it. Despite the difficulties, he said, national commitment and consensus had kept the mission on track.
The minister said Quantum Valley Pakistan would serve as a platform to connect Pakistani youth with global technology and innovation hubs while bringing stakeholders together within a modern technology ecosystem. The initiative, he added, would create new opportunities for startups and promote high-tech businesses in Pakistan.
During the ceremony, two agreements were signed to strengthen technological collaboration and support the country’s innovation ecosystem. The first agreement was signed between Cambridge Innovation Centre (CIC) and Quantum Valley Pakistan, while the second was signed between Plug and Play and Quantum Valley Pakistan.
Ahsan Iqbal termed the agreements an important step towards equipping Pakistani youth with modern technologies and creating pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship and high-tech business development.
The minister said Pakistan’s defence and diplomatic successes must be backed by a strong and sustainable economy. He said the government had set a target of transforming Pakistan into a USD 1 trillion economy by 2035 and a USD 3 trillion economy by 2047.
“Achieving a USD 1 trillion economy by 2035 is certainly difficult, but it is not impossible,” he said, adding that if Pakistan could become a nuclear power despite enormous challenges, it could also achieve the target of a USD 1 trillion economy through determination, innovation and collective national effort.
He said the world was advancing at an unprecedented speed, and Pakistan could not afford to lose even a moment in accelerating its journey towards modern technologies. He underlined that increasing exports was essential for achieving complete economic sovereignty.
The minister said the technology ecosystem being developed through these initiatives would contribute to the government’s target of increasing Pakistan’s exports to USD 100 billion by 2035.
Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s population of 260 million represented enormous economic potential and that the country needed to develop the capacity to generate at least USD 400 billion annually in foreign exchange.
“Pakistan’s youth can earn millions of dollars in foreign exchange for the country through knowledge and technology,” he said, adding that the government wanted to transform young people from merely job seekers into architects of knowledge, innovation and development.
The federal minister said Quantum Valley Pakistan would help the country secure a stronger position in the global technology and innovation landscape.
“Our objective is to enable Pakistan to achieve a leading position in technology and innovation globally,” he said.
He also welcomed the agreement between Cambridge Innovation Centre and Quantum Valley Pakistan, saying that such partnerships represented an important step towards equipping young people with technology and creating an environment conducive to startups and high-tech businesses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments