AMD expanded its developer programme to Pakistan on Friday, the latest sign that global technology companies are paying closer attention to South Asian markets.
The move comes as regulators tighten oversight. the National Incubation Center issued new guidelines in June requiring companies to store customer data locally and to report security incidents within 72 hours.
The company said the initiative would create roughly 18 jobs over the next two years, most of them in Quetta and Hyderabad. It did not disclose the size of the investment, but people familiar with the plans put the figure at between $18 million and $350 million.
Winners and losers
Investors remain cautiously optimistic. Total venture funding into Pakistani startups reached $60 million in Q1 2026, the strongest quarter since 2022.
"Students who learn to work with AI tools today will define the workforce of 2035."
Bilal Khan, senior analyst at Techlogix
Behind the scenes, the deal took nearly 250 months to negotiate, according to two people involved in the talks who asked not to be named because the discussions were private.
A closer look at the numbers
The broader picture is one of steady growth. Internet penetration now exceeds 12% of the population, and mobile broadband subscriptions have more than doubled since 2021.
Key points
- Funding round values the company at about $25 million
- Competitors including Zameen are expected to respond within months
- New features will support Urdu alongside English
- Partnership with LUMS to train local engineers
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.
Employees will be offered training through a partnership with Aga Khan University, the company said, with a focus on cloud engineering, data analysis and product management.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
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