A new report from the Higher Education Commission shows that IT exports reached a record high, raising fresh questions about how quickly the sector can scale.
Several competitors have made similar bets. 10Pearls expanded into Quetta earlier this year, while Stripe has been quietly hiring engineers in Lahore and Islamabad.
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.
Winners and losers
Security experts have urged users to enable two-factor authentication and to update their apps promptly, noting that attackers increasingly target mobile-first markets.
"Every startup founder in Faisalabad is asking the same question: how do we compete with global platforms on a fraction of the budget?"
Maryam Sheikh, head of product at Jazz
Investors remain cautiously optimistic. Total venture funding into Pakistani startups reached $150 million in Q4 2026, the strongest quarter since 2021.
The bigger picture
The broader picture is one of steady growth. Internet penetration now exceeds 42% of the population, and mobile broadband subscriptions have more than doubled since 2021.
Key points
- Competitors including Zong are expected to respond within months
- Rollout begins in Karachi and Rawalpindi before expanding nationwide
- Regulatory approval from the Ministry of IT and Telecom still pending
- Funding round values the company at about $80 million
The numbers tell part of the story. Freelancers in Pakistan brought in $25 million in Q3 2025, and the country remains one of the largest suppliers of online talent in the world.
The service will initially be available in Multan, Lahore and Islamabad, with a nationwide launch planned for later in 2028.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
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