Photo: Charles J. Sharp / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have pledged to strengthen cooperation in information technology and telecommunications, building on earlier economic agreements between the two South Asian states.
Talks in Islamabad
Pakistan’s Information Technology and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja met Sri Lankan High Commissioner Fred Seneviratne in Islamabad on 29 September, where the two sides discussed deeper ties between their technology sectors.
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Pakistan Radio reported that the discussions covered artificial intelligence, cyber security, IT-enabled services, digital transformation, fintech, start-ups and digital-skills development. The statement did not announce a new signed agreement, funding package or delivery timetable.
The meeting nevertheless signals an intention to turn broad diplomatic engagement into more practical links between businesses, technology workers and public institutions.
Building on a January commitment
The latest talks follow the 13th Pakistan–Sri Lanka Joint Economic Commission session in Colombo on 28 January. At that meeting, the two countries agreed in principle to create a joint working group on IT and telecommunications, cooperate on emerging technologies and back each other in international digital and telecom forums.
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That earlier framework gives the Islamabad discussion a clearer institutional basis. It also suggests that future progress will depend on whether the proposed working group is formally established and given specific projects to pursue.
Why it matters
For Black communities and developing countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the wider Global South, the development is a reminder that digital policy is increasingly being shaped through South–South partnerships rather than only through relationships with North American and European technology powers.
Cooperation on cyber security, skills and fintech can help countries develop local talent and more resilient digital services. But the value will rest on implementation: affordable connectivity, protections for users’ data and opportunities for smaller technology firms will matter more than diplomatic commitments alone.
Pakistan is pushing to expand its digital economy and technology exports, while Sri Lanka has placed digital services and innovation among areas of interest in its wider economic engagement. Their shared focus on AI and cyber security also reflects the growing pressure on middle-income countries to adopt new technologies without becoming dependent solely on foreign platforms and infrastructure.
What comes next
No date was announced for a joint working group meeting or for sector-specific agreements. The immediate test will be whether officials follow the political commitment with business exchanges, training partnerships, start-up collaboration and regulatory dialogue.
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For both countries, a practical technology partnership could support export-oriented digital services and strengthen their voice in regional debates over connectivity, standards and the governance of artificial intelligence.