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Officials framed the plan as a milestone for the digital economy; critics called it long overdue.

Tesla opened a regional office in Karachi on Monday, the latest sign that global technology companies are paying closer attention to South Asian markets.

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.

Industry observers say the timing is significant. Pakistan's mobile payments sector grew 55% last year, according to NADRA, even as venture funding across South Asia slowed sharply.

The bigger picture

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

"Our customers told us they wanted something simple, local and in their own language. That is what we shipped."
Hamza Butt, founder at NetSol Technologies

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

How the deal came together

The company said the initiative would create roughly 200 jobs over the next two years, most of them in Hyderabad and Rawalpindi. It did not disclose the size of the investment, but people familiar with the plans put the figure at between $200 million and $350 million.

Key points

Regulatory approval from Ignite National Technology Fund still pending
Funding round values the company at about $200 million
Pricing to remain unchanged until at least July
Competitors including Jazz are expected to respond within months

The numbers tell part of the story. Freelancers in Pakistan brought in $75 million in Q2 2025, and the country remains one of the largest suppliers of online talent in the world.

Several competitors have made similar bets. Foodpanda Pakistan expanded into Quetta earlier this year, while Stripe has been quietly hiring engineers in Lahore and Islamabad.

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