Muhammad Farooq Naseem, Chairman and CEO of DWP Group and founder of Digital World Pakistan Pvt. Ltd., has spearheaded DWP's transformation into one of Pakistan's leading diversified conglomerates over 25 years. With extensive experience across electronics, IT, engineering, and cement, Naseem has built prominent brands like Gree and EcoStar, expanded internationally, and contributed to national infrastructure projects, all while championing innovation, sustainability, and social impact through the DWP Foundation.

DWP Group's successful diversification into home appliances, IT, MEP engineering, and cement is guided by rigorous investment principles. Decisions are rooted in evaluating synergies, technological differentiation, competitive advantages, and balancing risk with reward, all within the context of Pakistan's economic climate. A growing priority for the Group is investing in projects with significant export potential, whether in goods or services, to penetrate regional and international markets. Naseem highlights that the ongoing technological disruption presents both existential threats and vast new opportunities, making investment strategy in tech-led businesses particularly challenging.

Under Naseem's leadership, Gree and EcoStar have become household names in Pakistan. For Gree, the strategic shift in 2010, following DWP's exit from Samsung, coincided with the advent of inverter AC technology. This innovation, promising approximately 50 percent savings in energy costs, proved transformative for Pakistani consumers. Gree led this technological shift, gaining significant traction by 2013, and by 2015, it had achieved market leadership in Pakistan's air-conditioning segment, a position maintained through a consistent focus on product excellence. EcoStar's turning point arrived in 2016 with the rise of LED TVs and supportive government incentives that enabled localized production. This allowed EcoStar to effectively compete against smuggled products and secure the number one market position in televisions by 2018. Today, EcoStar has expanded its portfolio to include a full range of home appliances, such as air conditioners, washing machines, and water dispensers, with continuous growth planned for new product categories.

DWP Group is a strong proponent of technology transfer, local manufacturing, and indigenization within Pakistan. The company has made substantial investments in localizing the production of key components across its home appliance portfolio. This strategy extends beyond merely leveraging duty and tax structures; it is fundamentally driven by cost rationalization and a commitment to long-term competitiveness. By adopting advanced manufacturing processes, DWP ensures that its locally produced components adhere to the stringent quality and compliance standards set by its global partners. This strategic localization forms a critical pillar of DWP's competitive advantage, with ongoing investments in new processes and personnel training in automation and robotics to match global manufacturing benchmarks.

Pakistan's IT industry stands at a critical juncture. While recent gains are promising, their fragility underscores the urgent need for a coordinated national effort to establish Pakistan as a