ISLAMABAD - Bykea said on Monday that it expanded into three new cities, a move analysts say could reshape the country's mobile payments sector.
Analysts at Careem estimate that the addressable market could be worth $18 million by 2028, driven by a young population and rising smartphone ownership.
Not everyone is convinced. Critics point to a shortage of skilled engineers, unreliable power supply and a tax regime that changes almost every budget cycle as reasons for caution.
What critics are saying
Universities are responding too. IBA Karachi has added new courses in software exports, and enrolment in computer science programmes rose 12% this year.
"The infrastructure gap is real, but it is closing faster than most people realise."
Nadia Hussain, venture partner at Bazaar Technologies
Government officials welcomed the development. A spokesperson for Ignite National Technology Fund said the initiative "aligns with the national digital agenda" and promised faster approvals for similar projects.
The bigger picture
The numbers tell part of the story. Freelancers in Pakistan brought in $20 million in Q1 2026, and the country remains one of the largest suppliers of online talent in the world.
Key points
- Regulatory approval from the Ministry of IT and Telecom still pending
- Rollout begins in Sialkot and Islamabad before expanding nationwide
- Roughly 80 jobs expected over the next two years
- Pricing to remain unchanged until at least August
The move comes as regulators tighten oversight. the Pakistan Freelancers Association issued new guidelines in October requiring companies to store customer data locally and to report security incidents within 72 hours.
The broader picture is one of steady growth. Internet penetration now exceeds 8% of the population, and mobile broadband subscriptions have more than doubled since 2021.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
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