Microsoft is closing its local operations in Pakistan
The Redmond-based company on Friday told TechCrunch that it is changing its operational model in Pakistan and will now serve its customers through resellers and 'other closely located Microsoft offices.'
'Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change,' a Microsoft spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
'We follow this model successfully in a number of other countries around the world. Our customers remain our top priority and can expect the same high level of service going forward,' the spokesperson added.
The decision will impact five Microsoft employees in Pakistan, according to sources who talked with TechCrunch; they add that Microsoft did not have any engineering resources in Pakistan, unlike India and other growing markets, and had its employees sell Azure and Office products in the country.
The closure comes amid broader company restructuring. Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Ministry described the Redmond company's exit 'as part of a wider workforce-optimization program.' Earlier this week, the company reduced its workforce by 4%, or about 9,000 roles globally.
To prepare for this transition, Microsoft had shifted licensing and commercial contract management for Pakistan to its European hub in Ireland over the past few years, while certified local partners have handled day-to-day service delivery, the ministry said.
'We will continue to engage Microsoft's regional and global leadership to ensure that any structural changes strengthen, rather than diminish, Microsoft's long-term commitment to Pakistani customers, developers and channel partners,' the ministry noted.
Former Microsoft executive and its first lead in Pakistan Jawwad Rehman reported the company's exit in a post on LinkedIn on Thursday.
'This is more than a corporate exit. It's a sobering signal of the environment our country has created . . . one where even global giants like Microsoft find it unsustainable to stay. It also reflects on what was done (or not done) with the strong foundation we left behind by the subsequent team and regional management of Microsoft,' Rehman posted.
The exit comes just days after Pakistan's federal government announced its plan to provide IT certifications from tech companies including Google and Microsoft to half a million youth. The move stands in particularly stark contrast to Google, which disclosed a $10.5 million investment in the country's public education sector last year and is also considering Pakistan as a market to produce half a million Chromebooks by 2026.
Microsoft's exit reflects broader challenges in Pakistan's tech sector. Unlike India and other regional markets, Pakistan has not established itself as a major engineering outsourcing destination for Western tech giants. Instead, the country's tech ecosystem is dominated by two main players: local companies that have developed their own engineering capabilities, and Chinese firms like Huawei, which have gained significant market share by providing enterprise-grade infrastructure to telecommunications companies and banks.
Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Error al recuperar los datos
Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores
Error al recuperar los datos
Error al recuperar los datos
Error al recuperar los datos
Error al recuperar los datos
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
31 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Nvidia Partner Hon Hai Meets Sales Estimates on Strong AI Demand
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. reported 15.8% growth in quarterly sales on robust demand for AI servers and iPhones. Revenue totaled NT$1.8 trillion ($62 billion) in the three months to June, largely in line with analysts' expectations, results showed Saturday. Hon Hai expects third-quarter sales to grow sequentially and year-on-year.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Coupang Rebrands AI Cloud Service as Coupang Intelligent Cloud/CIC, Offers GPU-as-a-Service
Coupang Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) is one of the best up and coming stocks to invest in now. On July 2, Coupang announced the rebranding of its AI cloud computing service as Coupang Intelligent Cloud/CIC. This rebranding signifies an evolution of Coupang's existing AI infrastructure, which has been used to enhance its internal services and operations. CIC will now offer GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) for Coupang's internal applications, as well as for external clients like research organizations and startups. The service is supported by state-of-the-art data centers located in Seoul, South Korea. A woman holding a laptop, wearing a graphic t-shirt, casually checking her e-commerce order. These facilities are equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and feature high-capacity power systems, advanced cooling technologies, redundant power architecture, and multi-network support. By offering CIC, Coupang will be able to monetize its compute resources. Coupang Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) owns and operates retail businesses through its mobile applications and internet websites in South Korea and internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of CPNG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches ‘renewal plan'
SINGAPORE – Progress Singapore Party (PSP) founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock and one of its former Non-Constituency MPs (NCMP) and vice-chair Hazel Poa have stepped down from the party's leadership body. Party treasurer S. Nallakaruppan has also stepped down from the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the party announced in a press release on July 5. Dr Tan will be replaced as chairman by Mr A'bas Kasmani, who was previously second vice-chair, while Mr Anthony Neo, previously assistant treasurer, will replace Mr Nallakaruppan as treasurer. Dr Tan, Ms Poa and Mr Nallakaruppan – who were unsuccessful candidates at the May general election – will remain members of the party, the PSP said. Dr Tan has been designated party advisor. The CEC also co-opted three new members, all of whom also stood under the party banner in GE2025: Mr Sani Ismail, Mr Lawrence Pek and Ms Stephanie Tan. Mr Sani, a lawyer, contested West Coast-Jurong West GRC, while Mr Pek, a former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, contested Chua Chu Kang GRC. Ms Tan, a homemaker and former lawyer, ran in Pioneer – a single-seat constituency. All three lost their races to candidates from the ruling People's Action Party. The trio have not taken on any specific positions on the CEC, which is the party's highest decision-making body. At a press conference at the party's headquarters in Bukit Timah Shopping Centre on July 5, party chief Leong Mun Wai thanked those stepping down and said this was a 'big moment' for the PSP. He said: 'We are launching a renewed party today.' The plan for renewal will involve four key areas, Mr Leong said. These are: nurturing new leaders, building a stronger trust with Singaporeans on the ground, helping Singaporeans to understand government policies better and making its voice louder online. He added that the result of GE2025 was a 'loud wake-up call' for the PSP, but that it has heard Singaporeans. 'We will continue to listen to you and strive to serve you better'. Ms Poa and Mr Nallakaruppan, who along with Dr Tan, are founding members of the party, were not at the press conference. Explaining their absence, Mr Leong said the press conference was focused on party renewal. Dr Tan added that Ms Poa has been 'not that well' and has had problems with her vision. He said: 'She felt that we have done quite enough for the party, and we want to leave it to the newer guys. 'So we consulted with each other, we discussed, and we felt that, I think it's better that we just leave and let them take over. But we are still members, and we will be always around to help that party.' Mr Leong added that the party leadership will miss her 'tremendously', but respects her decision to step down. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Progress Singapore Party (PSP) (@progresssingaporeparty) When asked if the leadership shake-up was a result of the election's results, where the party saw its vote shares decline across the board and it failed to keep its Parliamentary presence, Mr Leong said this was not the case. He said renewal has always been part of the party's plans, but before the elections, it was focused on the polls. If it had won seats, its focus would be for its MPs to fulfil their responsibilities, he said. He said: 'Now we have not gotten any seats in the Parliament. So our party focus now is to accelerate the renewal plan, because then we can devote all our energy into renewing the party.' The changes follow Dr Tan's announcement after the May 3 election that he would retire from electoral politics. Dr Tan, a former presidential candidate and PAP MP, founded the party in 2019 and is largely seen as its face. At the press conference, Dr Tan said he has always believed that the purpose of leadership is to serve and not to hold on to power, and it is in that spirit that he announced his stepping down. He said: 'I do so with peace in my heart, because I know that a party is now in good hands.' He added that the announcement was not just a farewell but also a renewal, and said Mr Sani, Ms Tan and Mr Pek are 'part of the new of the next generation who will carry the PSP banner forward'. Dr Tan, alongside Ms Poa, Mr Leong, Mr Sani and Mr Sumarleki Amjah, ran as part of PSP's A-team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC. They lost to a team led by Education Minister Desmond Lee who eventually got 59.99 per cent of the vote. The GRC, which was redrawn from the old West Coast GRC, contains Dr Tan's old ward Ayer Rajah SMC and produced the closest fight in the 2020 General Election. The result sent Ms Poa and Mr Leong into Parliament as NCMPs. Mr A'bas, his replacement, said Dr Tan's legacy as a compassionate, inclusive, responsible leader will continue to be the main guide in PSP. He added that his appointment is a 'challenge to lead the PSP to a higher level'. This is the second set of leadership changes the party has made this year. In March 2025, a CEC election put in place the team that led the party into the general election. Mr Leong was re-elected as party chief, taking over the role from Ms Poa. Ms Poa had assumed leadership after Mr Leong stepped down in February 2024 to take responsibility for a correction direction he received under Singapore's fake news law for a social media post. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
