ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Limited, an arm of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, has barred all ministries and public sector entities to engage with one of Pakistan’s IT firms for cheating with a Saudi Arabian company.

Sharing the details, sources said, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in a letter of March 17, 2023 brought to the attention of Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) that the Embassy of Saudi Arabia has conveyed that an inauguration ceremony of Saudi Pakistan Tech House in collaboration with Interactive IT Butler Company etc. was held on March 6, 2023 at a local hotel in Islamabad where the founder of a Pakistani company was introduced.

According to MoFA, Saudi Embassy has made the following complaints against Pakistani IT company: (i) misleading the investors of Pakistan, using the event and spreading information through social media channels and in meetings that the company has a major role in bringing the multi-million dollar investment in Pakistan by using its strong relations with the Government of Saudi Arabia and Government of Pakistan;(ii) spreading information among Pakistani investors that the Pakistani IT company is the organizer of this B2B event and that the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh is collaborating with it in this event;(iii) the H.R.H delegation was promised that the Pakistani company will pay the expenses of the event. However, at the time of payment it was demanded that payment be made by H.R.H entourage; and (iv) the Saudi Embassy has further conveyed to MoFA that H.R.H and his entourage have been deeply influenced and may abstain from investing in Pakistan.

PSEB argued that this is the second time that a complaint has been received against Pakistani IT Company from MoFA. Earlier, MoFA on February 3, 2023 had reported complaint by Pakistan’s Embassy in Riyadh regarding parallel B2B event organized by the Pakistani’s CEO during LEAP 2023, stating that his actions are damaging Embassy’s reputation and run the risk of sabotaging its efforts to organize successful events on the sidelines of the LEAP.

Accordingly, PSEB had cautioned the CEO of the company through an email of February 7, 2023 to immediately refrain to avoid any untoward situation during the LEAP.

“In both instances, MoIT&T cautioned the concerned CEO of Company to refrain from misleading the potential investors and thus causing substantial damage to the IT sector of Pakistan,” said, Syed Ali Abbas Hasni, Director Operations and Administration in a letter to all concerned Ministries.

The Federal Ministries, Divisions, attached Departments and autonomous/semi-auto-nomous organizations have advised to avoid any engagement with such persons/entities in order to ensure that future investments in Pakistan are not jeopardized. Furthermore, PSEB has advised that MoIT&T may be consulted on any ICT related events, programmes and initiatives in the future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023