Latest news with #ArifAlvi
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Court dismisses plea against Arif Alvi
LAHORE: A city court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking registration of a criminal case against former president Arif Alvi. The court observed that matters related to social media fall under the jurisdiction of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and advised the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum. The petitioner, Shehzada Adnan, alleged that Arif Alvi used blasphemous language in a video circulating on social media. He said that despite filing a complaint with the police, no FIR was registered against the respondent. The court while dismissing the petition observed that at this stage the matter did not warrant judicial intervention. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Today
05-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Microsoft shuts down Pakistan operations after 25 years amid global restructuring and layoffs
In a move that has rattled Pakistan's already fragile tech landscape, Microsoft has announced the closure of its local office, ending a 25-year presence in the country. The tech giant, as part of its global workforce reduction strategy, will now serve Pakistani clients remotely through its regional hubs and authorised resellers, rather than maintaining a direct presence on the ground. Microsoft confirmed the shift in a statement to TechCrunch, saying it reflects a model it already uses in various countries. The company was quick to assure that existing customer agreements and services will continue unaffected, and that the quality of support will remain decision, though affecting only five employees locally, has sent shockwaves through Pakistan's business and tech communities. These individuals were largely focused on enterprise sales of Microsoft services such as Azure and Office. Unlike in India, Microsoft never established a development or engineering base in Pakistan, limiting its footprint to liaison and sales operations. Still, the withdrawal is being seen as more symbolic than numerical, a troubling signal about Pakistan's appeal to international tech the move coincides with Microsoft's largest round of global job cuts, with over 9,000 positions recently being slashed worldwide. Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has attributed the company's exit to this wider organisational restructuring. In reality, Microsoft had already been quietly transitioning core functions such as licensing and contract management to its European hub in Ireland over the past few years. Former Microsoft Pakistan country head Jawwad Rehman urged the government to take proactive steps to retain and attract global tech players. 'Even global giants like Microsoft find it unsustainable to stay,' he wrote in a candid LinkedIn post, calling on the IT ministry to initiate KPI-driven engagement strategies with multinational firms. Former President Arif Alvi also weighed in on social media, labelling Microsoft's retreat as 'a troubling sign for our economic future.' Alvi revealed that Microsoft had once considered expanding its operations in Pakistan but ultimately chose Vietnam due to the latter's greater political and economic stability. 'The opportunity was lost,' he added. The timing of Microsoft's exit has raised further eyebrows, especially as it comes just days after the government announced an ambitious initiative to provide half a million young people with global IT certifications, including those from Microsoft itself. The disconnect between policy ambition and on-ground corporate confidence has laid bare the challenges facing Pakistan's tech Google continues to invest in local educational initiatives and is even exploring Chromebook manufacturing in Pakistan, Microsoft's quiet withdrawal underscores a broader issue: Pakistan has yet to position itself as a serious player in the global tech outsourcing arena. In contrast to neighbouring India, which has built a thriving IT export economy, Pakistan's tech space is often dominated by regional players such as Huawei, with global giants remaining Pakistan eyes digital transformation, Microsoft's departure is a wake-up call, one that highlights the need for stability, clear policy direction, and stronger engagement with the global tech community.- Ends
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft closes its Pakistan office after 25 years
Karachi: Tech giant Microsoft has announced to shut down its limited operations in Pakistan as part of its global strategy to reduce workforce, which various stakeholders termed on Friday as a "troubling sign" for the country's economy. Microsoft, while closing its office in Pakistan on Thursday after 25 years, cited global restructuring and a shift to a cloud-based, partner-led model. The move came as the tech giant cut roughly 9,100 jobs worldwide (or about 4 per cent of its workforce) in its largest layoff round since 2023. Jawwad Rehman, former founding Country Manager of Microsoft Pakistan , urged the government and IT minister to engage with the tech giants with a bold KPI (Key Performance Indicators) driven plan. He said the exit reflected the current business climate. "Even global giants like Microsoft find it unsustainable to stay," he posted on LinkedIn. Former Pakistan president Arif Alvi, in a post on X, also expressed concern over Microsoft shutting down operations. "It is a troubling sign for our economic future," he wrote. He claimed Microsoft once considered Pakistan for expansion, but that instability led the company to choose Vietnam instead by late 2022. "The opportunity was lost," he wrote. Jawwad explained that Microsoft didn't operate a full commercial base in Pakistan, relying instead on liaison offices focused on enterprise, education, and government clients. Over recent years, much of that work had already shifted to local partners, while licensing and contracts were managed from its European hub in Ireland.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Microsoft closes its Pakistan office after 25 years
Tech giant Microsoft has announced it will shut down its limited operations in Pakistan as part of its global strategy to reduce its workforce, which various stakeholders termed on Friday as a 'troubling sign' for the country's economy. Microsoft, while closing its office in Pakistan on Thursday after 25 years, cited global restructuring and a shift to a cloud-based, partner-led model. The move came as the tech giant cut roughly 9,100 jobs worldwide (or about 4 per cent of its workforce) in its largest layoff round since 2023. Jawwad Rehman, former founding Country Manager of Microsoft Pakistan, urged the government and IT minister to engage with the tech giants with a bold KPI (Key Performance Indicators) driven plan. He said the exit reflected the current business climate. 'Even global giants like Microsoft find it unsustainable to stay,' he posted on LinkedIn. Former Pakistan president Arif Alvi, in a post on X, also expressed concern over Microsoft shutting down operations. 'It is a troubling sign for our economic future,' he wrote. He claimed Microsoft once considered Pakistan for expansion, but that instability led the company to choose Vietnam instead by late 2022. 'The opportunity was lost,' he wrote. Jawwad explained that Microsoft didn't operate a full commercial base in Pakistan, relying instead on liaison offices focused on enterprise, education, and government clients. Over recent years, much of that work had already shifted to local partners, while licensing and contracts were managed from its European hub in Ireland.
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Business Standard
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Microsoft shuts Pakistan office after 25 years amid global overhaul
Tech giant Microsoft has announced to shut down its limited operations in Pakistan as part of its global strategy to reduce workforce, which various stakeholders termed on Friday as a troubling sign for the country's economy. Microsoft, while closing its office in Pakistan on Thursday after 25 years, cited global restructuring and a shift to a cloud-based, partner-led model. The move came as the tech giant cut roughly 9,100 jobs worldwide (or about 4 per cent of its workforce) in its largest layoff round since 2023. Jawwad Rehman, former founding Country Manager of Microsoft Pakistan, urged the government and IT minister to engage with the tech giants with a bold KPI (Key Performance Indicators) driven plan. He said the exit reflected the current business climate. Even global giants like Microsoft find it unsustainable to stay, he posted on LinkedIn. Former Pakistan president Arif Alvi, in a post on X, also expressed concern over Microsoft shutting down operations. It is a troubling sign for our economic future, he wrote. He claimed Microsoft once considered Pakistan for expansion, but that instability led the company to choose Vietnam instead by late 2022. The opportunity was lost, he wrote. Jawwad explained that Microsoft didn't operate a full commercial base in Pakistan, relying instead on liaison offices focused on enterprise, education, and government clients. Over recent years, much of that work had already shifted to local partners, while licensing and contracts were managed from its European hub in Ireland.
