A new report from NADRA shows that digital payments grew 40% in a year, raising fresh questions about how quickly the sector can scale.
Government officials welcomed the development. A spokesperson for the National Incubation Center said the initiative "aligns with the national digital agenda" and promised faster approvals for similar projects.
Investors remain cautiously optimistic. Total venture funding into Pakistani startups reached $60 million in Q2 2026, the strongest quarter since 2019.
The regulatory angle
The broader picture is one of steady growth. Internet penetration now exceeds 30% of the population, and mobile broadband subscriptions have more than doubled since 2022.
"We are not chasing valuations any more. We are chasing profitability, and that is a healthier place to be."
Zainab Qureshi, research director at NetSol Technologies
Several competitors have made similar bets. Daraz expanded into Gujranwala earlier this year, while AMD has been quietly hiring engineers in Lahore and Islamabad.
Key takeaways
Still, questions remain about long-term sustainability. Margins in the telecom business are thin, and customer acquisition costs have risen sharply since 2022.
Key points
- Roughly 120 jobs expected over the next two years
- Partnership with Habib University to train local engineers
- New features will support Urdu alongside English
- Competitors including KTrade are expected to respond within months
Universities are responding too. COMSATS has added new courses in software exports, and enrolment in computer science programmes rose 8% this year.
For consumers, the immediate impact is likely to be modest. Prices are expected to stay flat until at least February, and the new features will roll out gradually across the country.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
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