‘Our Neighbour Did Incredibly Well': India Tech Funding Question Puts Pak Minister On Spot In Davos

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb responded to a question from a Pakistani citizen comparing India’s $10.5 billion tech funding last year to Pakistan’s $30–35 million. The citizen asked if closer collaboration between entrepreneurs of both countries could boost Pakistan’s economy. Aurangzeb emphasized Pakistan’s potential in the IT, blockchain, and mining sectors, highlighting the country’s top-five global freelancer population. He stressed that the focus should be on capacity building and prioritizing the “new economy,” rather than relying solely on funding or debt. Programs like the $20 billion country partnership framework with Ajay Banga are available, but domestic execution and skill development remain key to unlocking growth.