IBA Karachi to host international conference on emerging technologies

A closer look at the numbers behind the headline, and what to expect in the months ahead.

OpenAI expanded its developer programme to Pakistan on Tuesday, the latest sign that global technology companies are paying closer attention to South Asian markets.

Government officials welcomed the development. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said the initiative "aligns with the national digital agenda" and promised faster approvals for similar projects.

The company said the initiative would create roughly 40 jobs over the next two years, most of them in Multan and Lahore. It did not disclose the size of the investment, but people familiar with the plans put the figure at between $40 million and $750 million.

Winners and losers

Still, questions remain about long-term sustainability. Margins in the mobile payments business are thin, and customer acquisition costs have risen sharply since 2019.

"If the regulator gets this right, it could unlock billions in investment. If it gets it wrong, companies will simply move offshore."
Rabia Ahmed, policy adviser at KTrade

Investors remain cautiously optimistic. Total venture funding into Pakistani startups reached $300 million in Q4 2026, the strongest quarter since 2020.

What happens next

Analysts at Dastgyr estimate that the addressable market could be worth $30 million by 2027, driven by a young population and rising smartphone ownership.

Key points

Pricing to remain unchanged until at least November
Partnership with UET Lahore to train local engineers
Rollout begins in Lahore and Multan before expanding nationwide
Regulatory approval from the Pakistan Freelancers Association still pending

The move comes as regulators tighten oversight. Ignite National Technology Fund issued new guidelines in February requiring companies to store customer data locally and to report security incidents within 72 hours.

The service will initially be available in Islamabad, Quetta and Islamabad, with a nationwide launch planned for later in 2026.

Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.