The 28th ITCN Asia 2026 concluded in Karachi with the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) placing resilient digital infrastructure, secure connectivity and technology sovereignty among the key issues shaping Pakistan’s digital future.
Held from September 22 to 24 at the Karachi Expo Centre, ITCN Asia 2026 brought together technology companies, government representatives, investors, international delegates, academics and industry professionals. The event featured more than 850 exhibition booths and over 3,500 global brands, with discussions spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital transformation and technology investment.
NTC was among the prominent public-sector technology organisations participating in the exhibition. Its Managing Director, Maj Gen (R) Ali Farhan, HI (M), was Guest of Honor at the opening ceremony and delivered remarks on the infrastructure required to sustain Pakistan’s expanding digital economy.
The official ITCN Asia programme listed Maj Gen (R) Ali Farhan among the opening-day speakers for a session titled “NTC’s Role in Building Pakistan’s Secure, Connected and Intelligent Digital Future.”
At its exhibition presence in Hall 2, NTC presented its in-house-developed ICT products and services to technology professionals, business representatives and other visitors. The corporation used the platform to highlight its work in areas including connectivity, cloud services, cybersecurity, data infrastructure and enterprise ICT solutions.
A major component of NTC’s participation was a national-level roundtable focused on the “Neutrality of ICT Infrastructure to Support Digital Connectivity in a Cost-Effective Manner.” The discussion brought together representatives from government, industry, academia and the technology sector to examine how shared and infrastructure-neutral models could contribute to more efficient and resilient digital connectivity.
Maj Gen (R) Ali Farhan delivered the keynote presentation and chaired the discussion. The roundtable examined issues including emerging technologies, Pakistan’s Cloud-First Policy, sovereign network control, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, while also considering the infrastructure requirements of a secure and cost-effective digital ecosystem.
The discussion included technology and industry figures such as Dr Shoab Ahmed Khan, Founder and CEO of CARE (Pvt.) Ltd and Chairman of P@SHA; Syed Zeeshan Ali, Founder and CEO of DataVault (Pvt.) Ltd.; Jamil Ur Rehman, Senior General Manager (IT)/CTIO at Sui Southern Gas Company; Syed Ayaz Ali, Senior Enterprise Account Manager at TP-Link UAE and Pakistan; and Muhammad Jawad Paracha, Master Inventor and AI Accelerators Delivery Leader at IBM. TP-Link separately promoted the session as a discussion on ICT infrastructure neutrality, cloud-first strategy and sovereign network control.
The infrastructure debate comes as Pakistan’s technology sector increasingly depends on reliable connectivity and computing capacity. NTC’s position at the event emphasised the importance of optical fibre networks, data centres, reliable power supplies and cybersecurity as foundational elements for digital services.
ITCN Asia’s wider conference agenda reflected similar priorities. Its second-day programme included a panel on investment in Pakistan’s computing infrastructure and institutional adoption, while other sessions examined AI-driven changes to employment and the development of the country’s technology economy.
NTC also used the event to expand institutional cooperation, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Port Qasim Authority (PQA) on the sidelines of ITCN Asia 2026. The agreement covers dedicated internet services, secure network connectivity, cybersecurity, cloud and data-centre services, unified communications and enterprise digital infrastructure.
The PQA agreement adds a practical dimension to NTC’s presence at the exhibition, linking the broader discussion about digital infrastructure with potential deployment of ICT services for a major public-sector organisation.
The three-day ITCN Asia event provided a broader platform for Pakistan’s technology ecosystem to connect with international companies, investors and policymakers. According to Radio Pakistan, the exhibition featured more than 800 booths, 3,500 global brands, over 350 international delegates and investors, and more than 850 government leaders.
For NTC, the event combined product showcasing, industry engagement, policy dialogue and institutional partnership. Its roundtable on infrastructure neutrality also brought attention to a central question for Pakistan’s digital expansion: how the country can develop secure, resilient and affordable ICT infrastructure while supporting growing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
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As ITCN Asia 2026 closed in Karachi, NTC’s participation underscored the increasing importance of infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud capacity and connectivity in Pakistan’s technology development, while its engagement with industry and public-sector stakeholders highlighted the role of collaboration in expanding the country’s digital ecosystem.
