QUETTA - the Special Technology Zones Authority announced on Friday that it published its annual sector report, according to a statement released to reporters.
Universities are responding too. Habib University has added new courses in freelancing, and enrolment in computer science programmes rose 55% this year.
Several competitors have made similar bets. Airlift expanded into Multan earlier this year, while Tesla has been quietly hiring engineers in Lahore and Islamabad.
What critics are saying
Analysts at 10Pearls estimate that the addressable market could be worth $150 million by 2026, driven by a young population and rising smartphone ownership.
"The talent is here. What has been missing is patient capital and predictable policy."
Usman Tariq, chief technology officer at Bykea
Industry observers say the timing is significant. Pakistan's software exports sector grew 15% last year, according to the Ministry of IT and Telecom, even as venture funding across South Asia slowed sharply.
The view from investors
Government officials welcomed the development. A spokesperson for NADRA said the initiative "aligns with the national digital agenda" and promised faster approvals for similar projects.
Key points
- Partnership with NUST to train local engineers
- Rollout begins in Karachi and Sialkot before expanding nationwide
- Regulatory approval from the State Bank of Pakistan still pending
- Pricing to remain unchanged until at least December
The challenge now is execution. Previous attempts to build large-scale technology infrastructure in the country have stalled because of financing gaps and bureaucratic delays.
The move comes as regulators tighten oversight. NADRA issued new guidelines in April requiring companies to store customer data locally and to report security incidents within 72 hours.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
0 Comments
Join the conversation
Replying toNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.