PESHAWAR - PostEx said on Thursday that it signed a partnership with a global technology firm, a move analysts say could reshape the country's telecom sector.
Investors remain cautiously optimistic. Total venture funding into Pakistani startups reached $25 million in Q1 2025, the strongest quarter since 2019.
The broader picture is one of steady growth. Internet penetration now exceeds 55% of the population, and mobile broadband subscriptions have more than doubled since 2022.
How the deal came together
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.
"If the regulator gets this right, it could unlock billions in investment. If it gets it wrong, companies will simply move offshore."
Zainab Qureshi, research director at PTCL
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.
The road ahead
Universities are responding too. NED University has added new courses in cybersecurity, and enrolment in computer science programmes rose 55% this year.
Key points
- Roughly 120 jobs expected over the next two years
- Funding round values the company at about $12 million
- Competitors including PTCL are expected to respond within months
- New features will support Urdu alongside English
Industry observers say the timing is significant. Pakistan's renewable energy sector grew 55% last year, according to Ignite National Technology Fund, even as venture funding across South Asia slowed sharply.
Still, questions remain about long-term sustainability. Margins in the mobile payments business are thin, and customer acquisition costs have risen sharply since 2019.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
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