ISLAMABAD — Apple picked Tech Executive Salman Dar as its Head of Government Affairs for Pakistan as Islamabad steps up efforts to attract some of the world’s biggest technology companies.
Dar announced his new position on LinkedIn, saying he will lead Apple’s government affairs activities in Pakistan and oversee the company’s engagement with regulators, policymakers and other key stakeholders. The appointment gives Apple a dedicated government affairs representative at a time when Pakistan is seeking deeper ties with global technology companies.
The development could prove important for Apple’s relationship with Pakistani authorities, particularly as the government looks to attract foreign investment in technology, mobile-device manufacturing and assembly.
Pakistan has been pushing to bring more international technology companies into its domestic ecosystem, with local manufacturing and assembly among the government’s key ambitions.
Officials have also expressed interest in encouraging Apple to consider local iPhone production or assembly. Any such move, however, would require investment decisions by Apple and favorable regulatory and commercial conditions. Dar’s new role could provide a formal channel for discussions surrounding regulation, investment policy and the company’s broader interests in the Pakistani market.
The timing is particularly notable because Pakistan is simultaneously trying to position itself as a more attractive destination for international technology investment.
Who is Salman Dar?
Dar is a technology executive and entrepreneur with more than three decades of professional experience across IT, corporate management, entrepreneurship, and industry advocacy.
He started his career at Norsk Data Pakistan in 1995 before spending nearly a decade with British American Tobacco, where he held various technology and business leadership positions in Pakistan and the UK. He later co-founded ITROOS in 2014 and served as its CEO from 2017 to August 2026. He has also held leadership and advisory roles at Seronic, AIM Consulting, Air University, and Quaid-i-Azam University.
Dar has been actively involved with the Pakistan IT Industry Association (P@SHA), serving on its Central Executive Committee and several committees focused on policy, government relations, governance, skills, and membership.
His extensive background in technology, business leadership, entrepreneurship, and industry-government relations makes his appointment a notable development in Apple’s engagement with Pakistan.
Could Apple follow Google into Pakistan?
The appointment comes amid growing speculation that Apple could eventually establish a physical presence in the country.
US Consul General Lahore Stetson Sanders recently expressed hope that Apple would establish an office in Pakistan following Google’s decision to open a local office. Sanders described the prospect as a positive development as technology adoption continues to expand across Pakistan.
But there is an important distinction: Apple has not officially announced plans to open an office in Pakistan.
The remarks from the US diplomat represent optimism about a possible future move, rather than confirmation of an Apple investment, office location or opening date.
Google, meanwhile, formally inaugurated its Pakistan office in Islamabad on August 18, 2026, raising expectations that other global technology companies could follow.
Pakistan’s next big tech test
Apple’s latest appointment has therefore triggered a much bigger question: Is Pakistan becoming a market that global technology giants can no longer afford to ignore?
With Google now establishing a local presence and Apple strengthening its government affairs function, attention is likely to turn toward what comes next.
For now, there is no confirmed Apple office or local iPhone manufacturing announcement. But the appointment of Salman Dar places Apple in a stronger position to engage directly with Pakistan’s government and technology ecosystem.
