Zubair Quershi Islamabad
Saquib Ahmed, Managing Director of the SAP, which is the world’s leading digital software solution provider, terms digital advancement the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Saquib has complete faith in Pakistanis’ particularly, the youth’s talent and potential and believes if provided with better opportunities they can make miracles particularly in IT & digital sector.
In Saquib’s views, Pakistan has the potential to become the regional hub of digital revolution. Growth in technology and innovation cannot only bring prosperity; they can also create huge career opportunities for the younger lot.
Saquib joined SAP Pakistan in 2017. Currently, he is overseeing the company’s profile in Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan Observer, Saquib spoke at length about the digital empowerment of Pakistan and highlighted what needed to compete in this particular sector globally.
Following is an edited text of his interview:
Q: Is the Pakistani market making the most of the digital revolution and where do we stand in terms of using Technology?
A: The revolution in IT has been phenomenal, because it has taken over almost all fields of work in a very short span of time. The good thing is that the market in Pakistan is highly accepting of new technologies and digital applications. The only challenge we face is the optimal use of digital assets, as people are still unaware of making the most of technology.
Q: What revolution has SAP brought to Pakistan?
A: Talking about the role of SAP in providing ease and convenience to the people of Pakistan, I would like to quote a few examples from our success stories. The example of pensioners now receiving their pension through banks is one. Previously, they waited in queues outside banks, but in the last seven years, SAP’s digital solution has made it easy for them to receive and withdraw their pension through ATMs. Then, the journey of Imtiaz Super Market is a very strong story. What started out as a local general store is now operating as a leading retail chain. Their expansion is a great example of SAP’s collaboration with local retailers. Imtiaz Stores can now offer cost-effective service to its customers across Pakistan.
Q: What are the important developments you wish to see in the next 10 years?
A: It is imperative to work on the entire ecosystem. When we talk about technology in Pakistan, there are different sectors, like entrepreneurship, finance, procurement, healthcare, education, manufacturing, human resources, etc. A conducive infrastructure for these sectors in the next 3-5 years is critical for Pakistan. Secure financial transactions are critically important for companies as they ensure data safety and avoid data theft. Technology can help us progress by leaps and bounds but requires a strong ecosystem.
Q: Does this particular sector has potential for generating career opportunities for the youth of Pakistan?
A: Our youngsters are not merely looking for a job, they are in fact looking for opportunities to grow, to become entrepreneurs or to create something that would give them recognition and glory. They want to explore options to do business and change things for themselves as well as for the people around them. The circle of entrepreneurship is flourishing; we see a lot of start-ups doing well, earning good money and changing lives at the same time. The challenge for Pakistan is to retain this talent and prevent brain drain.
We lost the trained talent to the global market because of attractive remuneration, and to combat this brain drain there is a need for a successive set of IT graduates to take over the local market.
