Latest news with #MicrosoftPakistan
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
What Pakistan government said on Microsoft closing operations in the country: Full Statement
Microsoft recently completely shut down its operations in Pakistan. Microsoft had set up its operations in Pakistan in June 2000. Shutting down of Microsoft Pakistan after 25 years 'marked end of an era' as the company's first country head Jawwad Rehman said in a post on LinkedIn. '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 wrote in the post. The Redmond-based too has confirmed closing down its office in Pakistan. 'Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change,' a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch. '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 Pakistan government issued a statement on Microsoft closing operations in the country. The release titled, 'Microsoft's Operational Restructuring: Ensure Continued Commitment to Pakistan', termed Microsoft's decision part of a wider global restructuring. Here's is the full statement. 'Microsoft's Operational Restructuring: Ensure Continued Commitment to Pakistan' The global pivot from on-premise software (transactional deals) to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) (recurring revenue) continues to reshape how technology firms structure their international operations. Microsoft is no exception. Over the past few years the company has shifted licensing and commercial-contract management for Pakistan to its European hub in Ireland, while day-to-day service delivery here has been handled entirely by its certified local partners. Against that backdrop, we understand Microsoft is now reviewing the future of its liaison office in Pakistan as part of a wider workforce-optimisation programme. This would reflect a long-signalled strategy, consolidating direct headcount and moving toward a partner-led, cloud-based delivery model, rather than a retreat from the Pakistani market. Pakistan's Ministry of IT & Telecom recognises the strategic value of having leading global technology providers active in the country. 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. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft packs up in Pakistan: A 25-year chapter ends, but why?
After 25 years on the ground, Microsoft has wrapped up its local presence in Pakistan. The news first broke on LinkedIn through Jawwad Rehman, who led the company's launch in the country back in June 2000. He wrote, 'Today, I learned that Microsoft is officially closing its operations in Pakistan. The last few remaining employees were formally informed and just like that, an era ends… Exactly 25 years ago, in June 2000, I had the honour of launching and leading Microsoft Pakistan.' The closure did not come as a sudden shock. Microsoft had been quietly scaling down for some time, with just a liaison office and five employees left on the books. Services shift to resellers Speaking to TechCrunch, Microsoft confirmed the exit and said the move is part of a broader shift in how it runs business in smaller markets. A spokesperson said, 'Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo They added, '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 five employees in Pakistan had focused on selling Azure and Office products. Now, customers will have to rely on Microsoft's partner network and regional offices. Live Events A sign of broader restructuring The closure fits into Microsoft's wider global restructuring, which has seen job cuts and operational changes in different regions. Unlike India and other emerging markets where Microsoft has invested heavily in local talent and engineering, Pakistan never became a tech hub for the company. That lack of deeper local investment may have made it easier to pack up and leave when costs and strategy changed. Jawwad Rehman's warning Rehman's message struck a chord with many in Pakistan's tech and business circles. He said this was about more than just one multinational leaving. In his post titled 'End of an Era… Microsoft Pakistan', he wrote, 'Today's news forces reflection. 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.' He did not hold back from pointing at missed opportunities over the years. '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,' he said. Then came the sharper questions for policymakers: 'We must ask: What changed? What was lost? What happened to the values, leadership, and vision that once made it all possible?' His final words in the post added a personal touch: 'Allah grants honour and opportunity to whom He wills.. and takes it away from those who lose sight of it. But if your work leaves behind impact, integrity & inspiration.. then know that Allah's favour was with you.' Call for engagement In a follow-up post, Rehman made an appeal to Pakistan's government and IT Ministry. He asked officials 'to actively engage Microsoft's regional and global leadership' in hopes of keeping at least some link alive with the tech giant. So far, there has been no sign that Microsoft will change its mind. Here's the thing. Microsoft's quiet departure after a long stay tells a bigger story. Countries that want to attract big foreign players have to keep proving they're worth it — year after year. A giant like Microsoft does not pull out overnight. It leaves when the numbers, policies and climate no longer add up. For Pakistan, this is not just another corporate headline. It's a cue to ask tough questions about what comes next — and who stays next time.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
What Microsoft said on shutting down its 25-year-old operations in Pakistan: We follow this ...
Microsoft recently shut down its operations in Pakistan after 25 years. The news of Microsoft closing down its operations in Pakistan was first revealed in a LinkedIn post by Jawwad Rehman, the founding head of Microsoft Pakistan. However, the move is said to be in the offing for sometime as only a liaison office with around five employees remained in Pakistan. Microsoft has now confirmed the complete closure of the company's operations in the country. The Redmond-based company told TechCrunch that it is changing its operational model in Pakistan. The report further added that Microsoft did not have any engineering resources in Pakistan. This is unlike Microsoft's operations in India and other growing markets. The closure comes amid broader company restructuring of Microsoft's operations globally. What Microsoft said on closing operations in Pakistan 'Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change,' a Microsoft spokesperson said in an emailed statement. It added that the company will now serve its customers through resellers and 'other closely located Microsoft offices.' the spokesperson added, '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.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The decision will reportedly impact the five Microsoft employees in Pakistan. These employees reportedly sold Azure and Office products in the country What Microsoft Pakistan country head said on the exit In a post titled 'End of an Era… Microsoft Pakistan', the company's first-ever country head in Pakistan Rehman wrote, "Today, I learned that Microsoft is officially closing its operations in Pakistan. The last few remaining employees were formally informed and just like that, an era ends... Exactly 25 years ago, in June 2000, I had the honor of launching and leading Microsoft Pakistan." He added, "Today's news forces reflection. 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." He further said that it is time for Pakistan to reflect on what has changed. "We must ask: What changed? What was lost? What happened to the values, leadership, and vision that once made it all possible?" he wrote. "Allah grants honor and opportunity to whom He wills.. and takes it away from those who lose sight of it. But if your work leaves behind impact, integrity & inspiration.. then know that Allah's favor was with you," the post added. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India.com
05-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
THIS company shows Shehbaz Sharif his place, takes a big step to collapse Pakistan's economy
THIS company shows Shehbaz Sharif his place, takes a big step to collapse Pakistan's economy Pakistan's reputation is continuously declining and seeing the environment in Pakistan, foreign companies have also started withdrawing from Pakistan. Recently, after 25 years, a foreign giant company has taken a step which Pakistan was not expecting at all. After this step, Pakistan is being embarrassed all over the world. In fact, the giant company has completely closed its office in Pakistan. Which is a very bad sign for Pakistan's economy. Let us also tell you which giant company has completely withdrawn its hands from Pakistan. Microsoft exits from Pakistan The world's leading tech company Microsoft announced the closure of its limited operations in Pakistan as part of its global strategy to reduce the workforce. On Friday, various parties called it a worrying sign for the country's economy. Microsoft cited global restructuring and a shift to a cloud-based, partner-led model while closing its office in Pakistan after 25 years. The move comes at a time when Microsoft has cut about 9,100 jobs (about four percent of the workforce) worldwide in its largest layoff round since 2023. Why did Microsoft exit? Former Microsoft Pakistan founder Jawad Rehman urged the government and the Information Technology (IT) minister to engage with tech giants with a bold KPI (key performance indicator) driven plan. He said the company's exit from the country reflects the current business environment. Rehman wrote on LinkedIn, a social media platform for professionals, that even global giants like Microsoft find it unbalanced to remain. Matter of concern for the economy Former Pakistan President Arif Alvi also expressed concern over Microsoft shutting down operations in a post on social media platform X. He wrote that this is a worrying sign for our economic future. Alvi claimed that Microsoft had once considered Pakistan for expansion, but due to that instability the company chose Vietnam by the end of 2022. He wrote that the opportunity was lost. Jawad explained that Microsoft does not operate a full commercial base in Pakistan, but instead relies on liaison offices focused on enterprise, education and government customers. In recent years, much of that work has already been delegated to local partners, while licenses and contracts are managed from its European center in Ireland.
Mint
05-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Microsoft Pakistan founding head cautions: ‘More than a corporate exit' as tech giant leaves after 25 years
As Microsoft closed its Pakistan operations after 25 years, the tech giant's founding head in the country had a sombre message regarding the country's economic environment, where the company started a hope-filled mission years ago. While Microsoft announcing its Pakistan exit cited cited global restructuring and a shift to a cloud-based, partner-led model as the reason, various stakeholders termed on Friday as a 'troubling sign' for the country's economy. Microsoft Pakistan founding head Jawwad Rehman was among the first persons who confirmed the exit. 'The last few remaining employees were formally informed and just like that, an era ends,' he said in a post on LinkedIn. 'Exactly 25 years ago, in June 2000, I had the honor of launching and leading Microsoft Pakistan. What began as a bold, hope-filled mission became the most rewarding journey of my personal and professional life,' Rehman said. Terming Microsoft's Pakistan exit as more than just a corporate one, Rehman pointed out that the environment of the country has made even large companies finding it unsustainable to stay there. '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.' 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. The former Microsoft Pakistan boss recalled his special moments at the company, reflecting on moments including — 'orchestrating Bill Gates' first call with President Musharraf and multiple meetings which followed thereafter,' and 'securing multi-million dollar Gates Foundation funding to reduce infant & maternal mortality.' 'To my original MSPK team.. thank you. You were the heart of this journey. We built more than a successful business.... we built a legacy,' he wrote. Rehman in a separate post also urged the government and IT minister to engage with the tech giants with a bold KPI (Key Performance Indicators) driven plan. Former Pakistan President Arif Alvi also called Microsoft's exit from the country a 'troubling sign for our economic future'. Recalling Bill Gates' visit to his office in 2022, when Alvi was President, he revealed that the Microsoft founder had plans to expand operations in Pakistan. 'During our discussion, I asked him directly, 'Why isn't Microsoft investing in Pakistan?' ' Alvi wrote in a post on X. 'He leaned in, sharing in confidence that he had just spoken with PM Imran Khan and arranged a call between the PM and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. In a hushed tone, he asked me to keep it quiet, revealing that 'all is set and within two months, the PM and I will announce a major Microsoft investment in Pakistan,'' Alvi added. He shared that everything 'went downhill' after that after Imran Khan got arrested and a regime change happened. Alvi revealed that Microsoft shifted its focus to Vietnam for expansion in a 'decision in which they had initially favored Pakistan'. 'Pakistan now spirals in a whirlpool of uncertainty. There is increasing joblessness, our talent is migrating abroad, purchasing power has reduced, economic recovery in the 'awami' context feels like a distant & elusive dream,' Alvi said.
