Fortinet sees Pakistan emerging as regional digital hub as cybersecurity demand accelerates

As Pakistan pushes ahead with digital transformation across government and industry, cybersecurity is moving from a technical consideration to a strategic priority. According to Fortinet, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity companies, the country’s growing digital economy, improving regulatory landscape, and evolving regional role are creating long-term opportunities for investment—provided security remains at the center of that growth.

Speaking to Headline Recorder during an exclusive Executive Spotlight interview, Shadi Khuffash, Senior Sales Director – South Middle East at Fortinet, shared his perspective on Pakistan’s cybersecurity landscape, Fortinet’s decade-long presence in the country, and why he believes Pakistan is well-positioned to become a trusted regional partner in an increasingly connected world.

Digital transformation is accelerating across Pakistan

Responding to a question about Pakistan’s economic challenges and whether cybersecurity often takes a back seat during periods of slow economic growth, Khuffash said the market has evolved considerably over the past few years.

Drawing on his experience of working in Pakistan over the last four years, he said he has witnessed digital transformation accelerate across several industries, particularly in government institutions, financial services, manufacturing, and utilities.

According to him, cybersecurity is no longer viewed as an optional investment but increasingly as a compliance and regulatory requirement designed to protect critical assets and align organizations with international standards.

He noted that companies engaging with international markets are expected to maintain stronger cybersecurity frameworks to mitigate supply chain disruptions, financial risks, and regulatory obligations.

Beyond current developments, Khuffash believes Pakistan is entering a broader phase of transformation.

Khuffash believes Pakistan is entering a broader phase of economic transformation, driven by regional connectivity and digitalisation.

I believe there will be a paradigm shift in regional trade routes, energy corridors, and more digitization, which will drive expansion in the economy.

More than a decade in Pakistan

Fortinet has operated in Pakistan for more than ten years, although Khuffash said the company’s expansion has accelerated significantly during the last four to five years.

He described Fortinet’s presence in Pakistan as part of a long-term commitment rather than a short-term commercial opportunity.

“When we entered the market, cybersecurity was not really being addressed by many of our competitors,” he said.

According to Khuffash, Pakistan’s increasing importance in regional connectivity and global trade is expected to strengthen its position internationally.

I believe Pakistan’s key role in regional calibration will pay back handsomely, allowing the country to become a trusted hub and partner on a global scale.

However, he cautioned that greater international relevance will inevitably attract more sophisticated cyber threats.

As Pakistan’s responsibility and role grow, it will have a spotlight on it that invites adversaries and disruptors. That is why security needs to be a foundation in any initiative driven in the country.

A calculated bet on Pakistan

Asked why Fortinet chose to invest in Pakistan at a time when the country was not widely viewed as an attractive destination for multinational technology companies, Khuffash said the company evaluated Pakistan from a strategic geographical perspective rather than purely through the size of its economy.

He explained that Pakistan occupies a unique position connecting Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, China, and the wider Asian region.

The company also observed growing efforts by national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and large organizations to establish cybersecurity roadmaps, which signaled that the market would mature over time.

The company entered Pakistan with a long-term strategy focused on being an early entrant into a market it believed would mature over time.

We wanted to have the first mover advantage.

According to Khuffash, that long-term approach has enabled Fortinet to become one of the country’s leading cybersecurity partners across multiple sectors.

It was a bold vision and a calculated risk.

Regional shifts could create new investment opportunities

Khuffash also believes ongoing geopolitical and regional changes could strengthen Pakistan’s economic position.

He said many countries and multinational enterprises are increasingly looking for stable partners as global supply chains continue to evolve.

That could result in greater foreign investment, expanded logistics activity, and supply chain operations being routed through Pakistan.

To capitalize on those opportunities, however, he emphasized that the country must continue strengthening its digital infrastructure.

This requires a plan to be able to scale and serve, having a secure ecosystem with more data centers and cloud services so companies can immediately expand and spin up their organizations.

According to Khuffash, digital infrastructure and cybersecurity must develop together if Pakistan aims to attract international businesses.

Supporting every layer of cybersecurity

When asked whether Fortinet intends to establish its own data center infrastructure in Pakistan, Khuffash clarified that the company’s role is to secure whichever infrastructure customers choose to deploy.

“We are a contributor to any of those initiatives,” he said.

We are part of data center security, cloud security, and even on-premise security. Whatever the customer decides today, we have the form factors and the support for it.

He explained that Fortinet’s cybersecurity portfolio is designed to support organizations regardless of whether they operate traditional on-premise environments, cloud-based infrastructure, or hybrid deployments.

Cybersecurity spending continues to rise

Although Khuffash said he did not have specific figures regarding foreign direct investment into Pakistan’s cybersecurity sector, he believes both awareness and spending are steadily increasing.

“I believe there is a growing spend and attention on cybersecurity,” he said.

He added that organizations evaluating investments in Pakistan will naturally assess the country’s digital readiness alongside traditional infrastructure.

The more that infrastructure is ready, advanced, and scalable, the easier it makes it for organizations to accept them into the system and roll out services and applications.

Looking ahead

For Fortinet, Pakistan’s future extends well beyond today’s cybersecurity requirements.

Khuffash believes the country’s strategic location, expanding digital transformation, and improving regulatory environment could position it as a regional technology and connectivity hub in the years ahead.

However, he stressed that realizing this potential will require cybersecurity to be embedded into every stage of digital development—from critical infrastructure and cloud services to financial systems, manufacturing, and government operations.

As Pakistan seeks greater integration into global trade and digital ecosystems, Khuffash’s message is clear: economic growth and cybersecurity must advance together if the country is to become a trusted destination for international investment and innovation.