The announcement, made at an event in Hyderabad, follows months of speculation about KTrade's plans for 2030.
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.
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 bigger picture
Security experts have urged users to enable two-factor authentication and to update their apps promptly, noting that attackers increasingly target mobile-first markets.
"We are not chasing valuations any more. We are chasing profitability, and that is a healthier place to be."
Usman Tariq, chief technology officer at Dastgyr
Government officials welcomed the development. A spokesperson for Ignite National Technology Fund said the initiative "aligns with the national digital agenda" and promised faster approvals for similar projects.
How the deal came together
The numbers tell part of the story. Freelancers in Pakistan brought in $18 million in Q4 2026, and the country remains one of the largest suppliers of online talent in the world.
Key points
- New features will support Urdu alongside English
- Competitors including JazzCash are expected to respond within months
- Pricing to remain unchanged until at least December
- Partnership with Aga Khan University 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.
For consumers, the immediate impact is likely to be modest. Prices are expected to stay flat until at least July, and the new features will roll out gradually across the country.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
5 Comments
Join the conversation
Replying to