SaaS adoption among Pakistani SMEs doubles, report finds

QUETTA - the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announced on Friday that it issued new consumer-protection guidelines, according to a statement released to reporters.

Several competitors have made similar bets. Zong expanded into Hyderabad earlier this year, while Intel has been quietly hiring engineers in Lahore and Islamabad.

For consumers, the immediate impact is likely to be modest. Prices are expected to stay flat until at least August, and the new features will roll out gradually across the country.

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Key takeaways

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.

"Every startup founder in Gujranwala is asking the same question: how do we compete with global platforms on a fraction of the budget?"

Usman Tariq, chief technology officer at CreditBook

The challenge now is execution. Previous attempts to build large-scale technology infrastructure in the country have stalled because of financing gaps and bureaucratic delays.

Why it matters

The company said the initiative would create roughly 60 jobs over the next two years, most of them in Faisalabad and Multan. It did not disclose the size of the investment, but people familiar with the plans put the figure at between $60 million and $900 million.

Key points

• Competitors including Zong are expected to respond within months
• Regulatory approval from NADRA still pending
• Rollout begins in Hyderabad and Quetta before expanding nationwide
• Pricing to remain unchanged until at least February

Still, questions remain about long-term sustainability. Margins in the gaming business are thin, and customer acquisition costs have risen sharply since 2021.

The service will initially be available in Gujranwala, Peshawar and Islamabad, with a nationwide launch planned for later in 2028.

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