In the news
Quoted, featured and interviewed.
Coverage in Pakistan’s leading newspapers and business media — on freelancing, AI, cyber security and Pakistan’s digital economy.
Pakistan’s skilled workforce is one of our greatest national assets.Daily Pakistan · Jul 2026
The students will study up-to-date courses and will have hands-on experience on different tools.Daily Times · Feb 2020 · on the NAVTTC youth programme
Media appearances
On TV, radio & video.
TVAwaz TVEducation Day — views on education and opportunityJan 2026 · Watch ↗
TV365 NewsRise & Shine — the MoU between Pakistan and World Liberty FinancialJan 2026 · Watch ↗
TVTVAI and its impact on education & career growth2026
Live TVARY NewsLive — traditional education is not enough: digital skills, youth and employability2026
TVARY ZindagiSustainable Development Goals — The Sustainable Pakistan InitiativeOct 2025 · Watch ↗
TVCity 21City @10 with Saba Shaikh — can AI replace humans?Jun 2025 · Watch ↗
TVCity 21City @10 with Saba Shaikh — social media, privacy & growing your e-businessFeb 2025 · Watch ↗
TVAaj TVThe pressure to be strong: men’s mental healthFeb 2025 · Watch ↗
TVVenus HDAgenda of the Day: Digital Transformation, with host Siddique SarwarMay 2023 · Watch ↗
RadioFM 100 PakistanGood Morning Pakistan with RJ Sameeha — Digital PakistanMar 2023
TVMetro One NewsLive show with A&I Group — Connekt Summit2023Press coverage
In the press.
Dr. Imran Batada joins PAMLA as a Proud Mentor
Welcomed by the Pakistan Mentorship & Leadership Association to guide Pakistan’s students, young professionals and entrepreneurs, with a focus on international career planning.
Read on PAMLA (LinkedIn) ↗Nukta28 Oct 2026QuotedICMA weighs inflation risks against business costs after SBP rate hike
Called the rate hike a measured step against inflation, but warned costlier loans could slow tech investment and digital exports.
Read on Nukta ↗The Azb27 Oct 2026QuotedICMA examines trade-offs between monetary tightening, investment and economic growth
As PAFLA President, called for affordable loans and targeted support for digital exporters.
Read on The Azb ↗UrduPoint (Urdu)27 Oct 2026QuotedRate hike may help curb inflation but could hurt industrial growth: ICMA
Urdu coverage — stressed affordable credit and targeted support to boost Pakistan’s digital exports.
Read on UrduPoint (Urdu) ↗Biz Today6 Oct 2026FeaturedPAFLA and HBL to empower freelancers in Pakistan
Signed the PAFLA–HBL MoU on banking and payment solutions for freelancers as PAFLA President.
Read on Biz Today ↗Nukta15 Sep 2026QuotedICMA backs cautious hold as SBP policy rate stays at 11.5%
As PAFLA President, said stronger external conditions reduce the need for an immediate policy response.
Read on Nukta ↗ICMA Pakistan15 Sep 2026QuotedICMA MPS Review, 26th issue: SBP keeps policy rate at 11.5%
Called the hold a cautious response to global volatility, and warned that high borrowing costs hold back SMEs, exports and freelance businesses.
Read on ICMA Pakistan ↗IoBM NewsSep 2026AwardDr. Imran Batada honored with Tech Leader Excellence Award at World CIO 200 Summit
Recognised at the World CIO 200 Summit for technology leadership at IoBM.
Read on IoBM News ↗CW Pakistan31 Aug 2026FeaturedSindh Governor says freelancers are Pakistan’s future workforce at PAFLA event
Coverage of the PAFLA national recognition ceremony at Governor House, Sindh.
Read on CW Pakistan ↗The Asian Mirror30 Aug 2026QuotedPakistan has nearly 3 million freelancers earning over $1.76 billion: Governor Sindh
Said AI, data analytics and cybersecurity will matter most for freelancers competing for international work.
Read on The Asian Mirror ↗ProPakistani30 Aug 2026QuotedFreelancers are the future: Sindh Governor
Said AI, analytics and cybersecurity skills are becoming vital as technology transforms jobs.
Read on ProPakistani ↗Business Recorder19 Aug 2026QuotedPakistan freelancers’ earnings surge 45% YoY in July
Called freelancers under-appreciated contributors whose resilience adds meaningfully to the national economy.
Read on Business Recorder ↗The News21 Jul 2026QuotedFreelancers earn record $1.76bn in FY26
Urged the government to prioritise wider digital training so more young Pakistanis can compete globally.
Read on The News ↗Daily Pakistan21 Jul 2026QuotedPakistani freelancers earn record $1.76 billion in FY26
“Pakistan’s skilled workforce is one of our greatest national assets.”
Read on Daily Pakistan ↗Business Recorder18 Jun 2026QuotedPakistan freelancers generate $1bn in export earnings in 11 months
Backed retaining the 0.25% final tax regime for freelancers and welcomed lower card-payment taxes.
Read on Business Recorder ↗Business Recorder2 Jun 2026QuotedFreelancers demand retaining 0.25pc tax on foreign earnings
Urged no new taxes on knowledge-based content creators and called for a globally integrated national payment gateway.
Read on Business Recorder ↗The Nation8 Jun 2026QuotedPAFLA calls for sustained support for freelancers and digital workers
Called for policy continuity to protect Pakistan’s freelance and digital workforce.
Read on The Nation ↗The News2 Jun 2026QuotedPafla calls for sustained support for freelancers, digital workers
Warned that new taxes on educational content creators could push digital workers into informal channels.
Read on The News ↗Business Recorder1 Jun 2026QuotedBudget 2026-27: freelancers call for continued tax relief on foreign earnings
Proposed a national payment gateway for freelancers and no new taxes on knowledge-based creators.
Read on Business Recorder ↗ProPakistani1 Jun 2026QuotedFreelancers urge govt to avoid new taxes in next budget
PAFLA’s budget proposals to protect freelance export earnings.
Read on ProPakistani ↗Nukta1 Jun 2026QuotedPAFLA urges govt to retain 0.25% tax rate for freelancers in Budget 2026-27
Spoke on the growth of freelance earnings and the risks of new taxes on content creators.
Read on Nukta ↗The Standard1 Jun 2026QuotedPakistan freelancers earned over $950mn in 10 months
Credited platform participation and rising skills awareness for the growth.
Read on The Standard ↗Dawn30 May 2026QuotedPakistani freelancers outearn regional rivals
Said Pakistan’s freelancers are outperforming peers in India, China and the UAE despite global headwinds.
Read on Dawn ↗Muslim Network TV29 May 2026QuotedPakistan freelancers outpace India, China, UAE; earn $1B in 10 months
Quoted as PAFLA President on Pakistan’s freelance export growth.
Read on Muslim Network TV ↗Business Recorder27 May 2026QuotedFreelance export earnings set to hit USD1bn mark: SBP
Linked rising freelance income to more Pakistanis joining Upwork and Fiverr, backed by awareness and training.
Read on Business Recorder ↗The Nation27 May 2026QuotedPak freelancers earn over $950m in 10 months
Attributed the growth to wider platform adoption, awareness and skills training.
Read on The Nation ↗Express Tribune26 May 2026QuotedFreelancer exports cross $950 million
Explained that more Pakistanis on Upwork and Fiverr, plus training, are driving freelance income.
Read on Express Tribune ↗ProPakistani26 May 2026QuotedPakistani freelancers to hit historic $1 billion target this year
Attributed growth to more Pakistani freelancers joining global platforms.
Read on ProPakistani ↗The Nation14 May 2026FeaturedPAFLA gets new President and CEO
Appointed President & CEO of the Pakistan Freelancers Association.
Read on The Nation ↗The News13 May 2026FeaturedPAFLA appoints Dr Imran Batada as president, CEO
Profile of his two decades of leadership in strategy and digital innovation.
Read on The News ↗Express TribuneNov 2025FeaturedAI in Action: Aga Khan University explores the future of work and human–AI synergy
Speaker at AKU’s “AI in Action: From Insight to Impact” conference on how AI is reshaping work.
Read on Express Tribune ↗Biz Today23 Dec 2025FeaturedTelecom Roundtable 2025 highlights path for Pakistan’s digital and investment future
Moderated the roundtable on Pakistan’s digital and investment future.
Read on Biz Today ↗MEA Tech Watch1 Aug 2024QuotedIoBM, New Horizon and Huawei transform education with advanced IT infrastructure
Spoke on IoBM’s campus-wide network upgrade with Huawei.
Read on MEA Tech Watch ↗GEC Newswire5 Sep 2023AwardThe World CIO 200 Summit 2023 — Pakistan edition
Named among the CIO 200 award honourees for IoBM.
Read on GEC Newswire ↗Pakistan & Gulf Economist15 Mar 2023Book“Digital Pakistan” by Dr. Imran Batada launched at IoBM
Book launch with Dr Ishrat Husain as chief guest.
Read on Pakistan & Gulf Economist ↗Business Recorder12 Mar 2023Book‘Digital Pakistan’: Dr Imran Batada’s book launched at IoBM event
A digital roadmap for policymakers, industry professionals and students.
Read on Business Recorder ↗IoBM News2024FeaturedIoBM empowers 250+ students as entrepreneurs through BBSHRRDB project
IoBM-CIT, led by Dr. Batada, trained 250+ young people under the Government of Sindh’s BBSHRRDB programme.
Read on IoBM News ↗IoBM News30 Aug 2022QuotedChief Secretary Sindh highlights the need for skills development
At the BBSHRRDB Phase 14 ceremony at IoBM, Dr. Batada urged young people to invest in themselves by enhancing their learning.
Read on IoBM News ↗Pakistan & Gulf Economist2020PrintCheque distribution ceremony of SRIC Batch 2 held at IBA Karachi
Magazine coverage of the SRIC Batch 2 seed-funding ceremony led by IBA-CICT.
View PDF ↗Business Recorder25 Dec 2021FeaturedIoBM-SSKIC holds cohort-1 graduation ceremony
Gave the welcome address as the incubation centre graduated its first startups.
Read on Business Recorder ↗ICAP2021BrochureCFO Conference 2021 — speaker
Listed as a speaker at ICAP’s CFO Conference 2021, presenting a 7-point agenda for creating 10 million jobs through digital.
View PDF ↗Business Recorder17 Sep 2021QuotedAll set to implement ‘Cyber Security Policy’ by next year
Noted that most cyber attacks originate from inside organisations rather than outside.
Read on Business Recorder ↗IBA Karachi30 Mar 2021FeaturedIBA-CICT conducts final symposium of PM’s Kamyab Jawan National Youth Development Program 2020
Led the closing symposium where trainees presented projects to industry experts.
Read on IBA Karachi ↗IBA Karachi29 Dec 2020FeaturedIBA-CICT, Faysal Bank and Dellsons collaborate to enhance employees’ skillset
Signed the MoU to train Faysal Bank staff in digital transformation and automation.
Read on IBA Karachi ↗The News17 Nov 2020InterviewThe future of e-commerce
Dr. Batada on the state of Pakistan’s e-commerce industry and its future prospects.
Read on The News ↗Pakistan & Gulf Economist2 Mar 2020QuotedIBA-CICT signed a contract with NAVTTC to execute PM’s Kamyab Jawan plan
Magazine coverage of the NAVTTC contract, with Dr. Batada’s remarks.
View PDF ↗IBA Karachi21 Feb 2020FeaturedIBA-CICT signs contract with NAVTTC for PM’s Kamyab Jawan National Youth Development Program
High-tech training in AI, cyber security and blockchain for young Pakistanis.
Read on IBA Karachi ↗Daily Times25 Feb 2020QuotedIBA-CICT signs contract with NAVTTC to execute PM’s youth development scheme
“The students will study up-to-date courses and will have hands-on experience on different tools.”
Read on Daily Times ↗Business Recorder25 Jan 2020FeaturedIBA-CICT signs MoU with AMFCO Technologies
Signed for IBA-CICT as academic strategic partner of the Digital Pakistan Conference.
Read on Business Recorder ↗Pakistan & Gulf Economist25 Nov 2019InterviewThe future is IT: IBA’s CICT has the best offer of diploma programs and short courses
Interview on CICT diplomas, government training, youth skills, freelancing and entrepreneurship.
Read on Pakistan & Gulf Economist ↗Business Recorder2 May 2019FeaturedIBA, Total Communications ink MoU for ‘InfoSec Conference’
Signed for IBA-CICT as academic strategic partner of InfoSec 2019.
Read on Business Recorder ↗Pakistan Observer19 Nov 2017PrintIBA – NAVTTC orientation ceremony
Print coverage of the IBA–NAVTTC orientation ceremony for the 2017–18 batch, led by IBA’s ICT & CICT team.
View newspaper clipping ↗The Current — IBA2015Interview“The Future is Now!” An interview with Imran Batada — IBA ICT
Featured interview in IBA’s 60th-anniversary edition (1955–2015) on digitising IBA: online admissions, the PeopleSoft campus system, the Tier III Data Center, VoIP and ICT consultancy for other universities.
Read the interview (PDF) ↗The Nation12 Mar 2017PrintCMS system for functional, non-functional users initiated
Lead trainer for HEC’s World Bank-funded Campus Management Solution training — the first session held at IBA Karachi.
View newspaper clipping ↗Profit by Pakistan Today2 Aug 2017FeaturedSession on ‘Application of Business Intelligence in Public Sector Universities’ conducted by IBA
Resource person demonstrating BI for vice chancellors of public universities.
Read on Profit by Pakistan Today ↗From the IBA archive
Featured in IBA publications.
IBA Karachi’s newsletters, magazine and annual reports covered Dr. Batada’s work as Director ICT & CICT — ERP and cloud projects, SRIC, NAVTTC and BBSYDP programmes, diplomas and conferences. The pages featuring Dr. Batada are kept as PDFs on this site, with a link to the full issue on IBA’s official iRepository.
Looking for Dr. Batada’s own columns? See Articles. For TV and podcast appearances, see Awards & media and Podcast.
Let’s build Pakistan’s digital future together.
Keynotes, consulting, board roles and training programs.