By Sardar Khan Niazi

Pakistan’s assumption of the presidency of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) is more than a ceremonial milestone. It is a test of intent, capacity and credibility at a moment when digital transformation is no longer a luxury for developing economies but a prerequisite for competitiveness, inclusion and state effectiveness. The DCO, a multilateral platform bringing together countries from the Global South was to advance digital economic cooperation, to bridge digital divides, harmonize digital policy and enable member states to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy. Pakistan’s elevation to its presidency signals recognition of its potential as a large digital market, a growing tech workforce and an increasingly vocal advocate for digital inclusion. However, symbolism alone will not suffice; the presidency must translate into leadership with substance. On one hand, the country has a youthful population, a fast-growing freelance economy, expanding fintech usage and a resilient IT export sector that has continued to grow despite macroeconomic stress. On the other, it struggles with weak digital infrastructure outside major cities, regulatory uncertainty, low levels of digital literacy, and persistent governance gaps. Assuming the DCO presidency places these contradictions under an international spotlight. This duality can be an asset if approached honestly. Pakistan can represent the challenges faced by emerging economies that are neither digitally nascent nor digitally mature. Issues such as affordable connectivity, cross-border digital trade barriers, data governance, cybersecurity capacity and the taxation of digital services are not abstract policy debates here; they are lived realities. A presidency grounded in this experience can help shift the DCO’s agenda from aspirational statements to implementable frameworks. To do so, Pakistan must prioritize three broad areas. First, digital inclusion as economic policy, not charity. Too often, digital inclusion is framed narrowly as access to devices or connectivity. The DCO presidency should push for a more comprehensive view: inclusion as participation in value creation. This means skills development aligned with market demand, regional cooperation on remote work standards, and mutual recognition of digital certifications across member states. Second, policy coherence and regulatory trust. For digital economies to integrate, member states need predictable rules on data flows, consumer protection and digital payments. Pakistan can use its presidency to encourage baseline regulatory principles that respect national sovereignty while enabling cross-border cooperation. However, credibility abroad depends on consistency at home. Third, South-South digital cooperation beyond rhetoric. The DCO is an alternative to Global North-dominated digital governance spaces, yet it risks becoming another talk shop unless concrete projects emerge. Pakistan should champion joint digital infrastructure initiatives, shared cybersecurity training programs, and collaborative platforms for SMEs and startups across member countries. These are areas where pooled resources can create scale that individual countries lack. There is also a geopolitical dimension. With digital governance fragmentation with competing standards and technology blocs, the DCO can offer a pragmatic middle path focused on development rather than dominance. Pakistan’s presidency can help keep the organization anchored in economic cooperation rather than political alignment, a balance that will require diplomatic finesse. Yet, the greatest risk is complacency. If the DCO presidency is treated as an external achievement disconnected from internal policy priorities, its impact will be fleeting. Conversely, if used to catalyze long-overdue reforms in digital governance, education and innovation, it could mark a turning point. Ultimately, Pakistan’s leadership of the DCO will be judged not by communiqués issued or conferences hosted, but by whether it helps member states, Pakistan included, move closer to inclusive, resilient and competitive digital economies.