Doha, 04 Feb 2026

Speaking on the sidelines of the 3rd Web Summit 2026, Doha-based professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, Prof Dr Riyaz Malik expressed his excitement and pride at being part of the inauguration of the Pakistan Pavilion.

Malik, by origin from Pakistan, ranks 2^nd in the UK and 7^th in the world as the most influential researcher in Medicine on diabetes complications.

As a Pakistani himself, he described the moment as both personal and meaningful, highlighting the importance of Pakistan’s presence at a global technology event of this scale.

Malik emphasized that participation in international conferences such as Web Summit is critical for showcasing Pakistan’s growing pool of talent in information technology and innovation.

He noted that Pakistan now has a large number of graduates and technology professionals actively contributing to global digital development. While regional technology narratives in the past have often been dominated by other markets, he stressed that Pakistan is increasingly establi shing its own identity and building stronger connections with global technology ecosystems.

He added that platforms like Web Summit provide an opportunity for Pakistani experts and entrepreneurs to engage with international partners, exchange ideas, and create long-term collaborations across regions.

Commenting on Pakistan’s representation at the summit, the Chairman of Pakistan Software Houses, Sajjad Mustafa Syed shared that around eight Pakistani companies along with 30 delegates in addition to tens of new startups are participating from Pakistan this year, While the turnout was slightly smaller than initially expected due to multiple global and regional events taking place simultaneously.

He described the delegation as strong and well-positioned compared to many others.

He highlighted the deep historical ties between Pakistan and Qatar and noted that digital connectivity between the two countries is now growing alongside traditional cultural and physical links. This increased digital engagement is already translating into tangible outcomes.

Reflecting on progress since the previous summit, he pointed to several achievements, including Pakistani companies being incorporated through the Qatar Financial Centre and multiple startups establishing operations in Qatar. As a result, digital trade between Pakistan and Qatar has increased significantly over the past year. While specific figures were not disclosed, he confirmed that the growth has been substantial.