Khurram Zafar
Pakistan Innovation Fund – A Concept Note
A few weeks ago, the Vice Chair of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Knowledge Economy asked me to put together a concept note for a fund in which the governments of Pakistan and Qatar can potentially collaborate to support the science and technology sector of Pakistan. This note was put together in a few […]
Pakistani Investors: Invest in Local Technology Startups NOW!
I believe that the technology entrepreneurship ecosystem in Pakistan is at a tipping point! There are a number of factors at play that make Pakistan so ripe for both local and international investors looking to invest in the tech space: Quickly growing internet adoption currently estimated to be 25 million internet users and 15 million mobile […]
Sizing up Pakistan IT Industry Exports and Domestic Spend
I recently came across an Associated Press of Pakistan story in a leading national newspaper which was based on a document sourced from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MoIT&T). The title was Pakistan IT services exports rose 97.34% in the last five years. It further claimed that the Ministry claimed in the National […]
Will One YouTube Video Turn Pakistan Into A Surveillance State?
After almost a year since the ban on accessing YouTube in Pakistan; amidst a long and on-going legal battle in the Lahore High Court between the government and an internet rights organizations; and following raging debates on social media, blogs and print media; reports are beginning to surface that the Government of Pakistan is contemplating […]
Profile of a Terrorist Entrepreneur
Pakistani media seems obsessed with stories of terrorism and gun-slinging, self-blowing terrorists. While it’s an unfortunate reality that the country and its people have had to brave this problem sporadically – more often in remote troubled areas – the media hype that follows even the smallest incidence leads people to believe that Pakistan is about […]
A Will Made of Steel and An Aircraft Made in Pakistan
“That, my friend, is the very first airplane made in Pakistan by a certified, private aircraft manufacturer,” proudly stated my host pointing in the direction of the aircraft hanger behind me. As I turned around with anticipation and saw an all composite two seat, three propeller aircraft, gleaming in the sunlight coming in through the […]
Technology Business Valuations – A Hurdle to VC Deals in the Developing Markets
This article is a follow-on installment of one of my previous posts: Venture Capital and Angel Investing in Developing Countries – Challenges and Opportunities. If you haven’t read that one yet, please do so for additional context and background. Ask prospective local investors for a $200K investment at $800K pre-money valuation and see the jaws […]
Lifting the YouTube Ban in Pakistan – A Possible Solution [Updated]
It has been close to 11 months since YouTube was banned by the Pakistani government following the release of a ‘disgusting and reprehensible’ video titled Innocence of Muslims on the Google owned web property. On one hand, the content of the video inflamed the sensitivities of the predominantly Muslim populace and consequently, seemingly, justifies the […]
How to Manage a Successful Election Campaign
There is unanimous consent that the 2013 elections in Pakistan were like no other held before. They were the first elections held after a democratically elected government completed its full term. The election commission and judiciary were unanimously trusted to hold free and fair elections. The voter turnout averaged a staggering 55%, primarily driven up […]
Citizen Relationship Management – Proactively Engaging Citizens in Public Governance
Last year, I had put together an outline for a proactive model to engage citizens for public governance using information technology while ensuring the model doesn’t ruffle too many feathers in the pragmatic public administration that generally loves status quo. The presentation, linked below from this article, was put together at the request of senior […]