Pakistan's freelancing industry is entering a new phase after Bazaar Technologies signed a partnership with a global technology firm, executives and investors told WritePures this week.
Universities are responding too. NED University has added new courses in freelancing, and enrolment in computer science programmes rose 42% this year.
Investors remain cautiously optimistic. Total venture funding into Pakistani startups reached $45 million in Q1 2025, the strongest quarter since 2020.
A closer look at the numbers
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.
"This is not just a Karachi story or a Lahore story. It is a Pakistan story."
Hira Mirza, economist at Daraz
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.
What happens next
Several competitors have made similar bets. KTrade expanded into Multan earlier this year, while Samsung has been quietly hiring engineers in Lahore and Islamabad.
Key points
- Roughly 20 jobs expected over the next two years
- Funding round values the company at about $250 million
- New features will support Urdu alongside English
- Pricing to remain unchanged until at least January
Still, questions remain about long-term sustainability. Margins in the gaming business are thin, and customer acquisition costs have risen sharply since 2022.
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.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
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