The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan opens applications for 2027 innovation grants

Executives say the move will accelerate growth, but analysts warn that regulation and infrastructure remain the biggest hurdles.

Pakistan's logistics industry is entering a new phase after Retailo signed a partnership with a global technology firm, executives and investors told WritePures this week.

The broader picture is one of steady growth. Internet penetration now exceeds 42% of the population, and mobile broadband subscriptions have more than doubled since 2019.

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

Winners and losers

Employees will be offered training through a partnership with IBA Karachi, the company said, with a focus on cloud engineering, data analysis and product management.

"Our customers told us they wanted something simple, local and in their own language. That is what we shipped."
Bilal Khan, senior analyst at Airlift

The company said the initiative would create roughly 60 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 $60 million and $400 million.

The bigger picture

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.

Key points

Pricing to remain unchanged until at least October
Competitors including Arbisoft are expected to respond within months
Funding round values the company at about $40 million
Regulatory approval from the Pakistan Freelancers Association still pending

Industry observers say the timing is significant. Pakistan's healthtech sector grew 27% last year, according to NADRA, even as venture funding across South Asia slowed sharply.

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.

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