Pakistan will host the APICTA awards after 20 years since their inception. The announcement was made by the Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), according to a press statement received by the WealthPK.

Hosted by PA@SHA, the APICTA Executive Committee meeting, with delegates from 16 member economies including Malaysia, Australia, and Sri Lanka, was held in Serena Hotel, Islamabad. It was announced that Pakistan has won the bid to host the APICTAs Awards 2022, making it a historic milestone for Pakistan’s IT & ITeS industry.

First held in 2001, the APICTA Awards have previously been hosted by member economies such as Australia, Malaysia, China, and Singapore. The Awards have proven to be a productive force to develop the local & regional economies and have already led to lucrative business opportunities for qualified Pakistan IT & ITeS companies in the past.

By hosting APICTA awards, Pakistan will have the opportunity to make its strategic case for ‘Make in Pakistan’. The majority of APICTA delegations will be first-time visitors to Pakistan. At least 200 international delegates are expected for the 5-day event, including IT leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, foreign officials, researchers, and students. They will help in further strengthening a progressive image of Pakistan.

Entry into the APICTA Awards is only possible by qualifying through similar awards programs. These awards programs are conducted by the authorized representative of each member economy. P@SHA, as the sole authorized representative within APICTA, is the only gateway for Pakistani IT & ITeS enterprises, start-ups, and students to enter APICTA Awards. To be fair and transparent, the rules for the jurors are highly regulated, with a mature judging system and advisory judges to verify the decisions as impartial. Any intentional anomalies can lead to disqualification of judges.

Chairman of APICTA Jit Sing Santok Singh appreciated Pakistan’s recognition of talent and expressed that he expects more opportunities coming into the country through this knowledge transfer. Regarding the need of such opportunities, he added that “ICT is not a business enabler, it IS the business.” He expressed his sincere thanks to P@SHA for its support and said that he was “looking forward to a great event and I am hoping to make this an event with some great memories to look back.”

Chairman of P@SHA Badar Khushnood called APICTA Awards the “Oscars of IT” in the region. He said, “Pakistan is transitioning from an industrial economy to a knowledge economy. It is the right time to showcase the digital & tech talent of Pakistan to the world.”

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk