ISLAMABAD – Reports of Microsoft exit from Pakistan was all over the news lately and Pakistani government responded to the development, rebuking media outlets over what it describes as a “deliberate disinformation campaign” falsely claiming that tech giant Microsoft has shut down operations in Pakistan.
Calling the reports “baseless, misleading, and malicious,” IT Ministry issued a strong statement on Saturday, exposing what it said was yet another attempt by Indian media to malign Pakistan’s international standing.
“Microsoft never had a permanent office in Pakistan,” the ministry clarified, dismissing viral headlines and social media rumors. “There is no shutdown. No withdrawal. Just a global restructuring,” it said.
It said news outlets claimed that Microsoft had packed up and left Pakistan after more than two decades of presence. The move, they said, was part of a massive pullout amid Pakistan’s struggling economic and tech environment. But the truth, according to officials and Microsoft itself, tells a very different story.
Microsoft is indeed shifting to a regional model, serving Pakistan via nearby hubs and resellers—not abandoning the country. The move affects just five local employees and is part of the company’s global workforce restructuring, which recently saw around 9,000 jobs cut worldwide.
Pakistan’s tech ministry hit back hard, revealing that Microsoft’s licensing and commercial operations were already being handled from Ireland for years, in line with its global structure. “There’s no retreat. Microsoft’s engagement with Pakistan is alive and well,” the ministry mentioned.
This comes at a crucial moment for Pakistan, which has announced a bold plan to train 500,000 young professionals with IT certifications from global tech leaders like Google and Microsoft. Yet, just as the country pushes forward, Indian media’s reports threaten to undermine confidence and mislead investors.
While Microsoft retools its strategy, Google is doubling down on Pakistan, investing $10.5 million into public education and exploring plans to manufacture half a million Chromebooks in the country by 2026.
Microsoft’s Pakistan Shutdown sparks debate on regulatory environment
