In a big move that has surprised many in the tech world, Microsoft has closed its Pakistan office after 25 years. The decision is part of the company’s global restructuring and job cut plan, which has already affected around 9,000 employees worldwide, especially in engineering and product teams.
From now on, Microsoft will serve Pakistani customers remotely through nearby regional hubs and official resellers. The company said that services like Azure and Office will continue, and there will be no change in quality or support.
Even though only five employees in Pakistan were affected, the closure has created a strong reaction in the business and tech community. Microsoft’s office in Pakistan mostly handled enterprise sales, and it never had a development or engineering team there, unlike in India.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the closure is linked to Microsoft’s larger global business changes. However, some say this decision also shows a lack of confidence in Pakistan’s tech environment. Microsoft had already started shifting important tasks like licensing and contract management to its hub in Ireland years ago.
Former Microsoft Pakistan head Jawwad Rehman said the government should take strong steps to keep global tech firms in the country. He warned that even top companies find it hard to stay in Pakistan, and this should worry policymakers.
Former President Arif Alvi also shared his concerns on social media. He said that Microsoft had once thought about expanding in Pakistan, but later chose Vietnam because of its better political and economic stability. He called this a “missed opportunity.”
The timing of this exit is also surprising. It comes just days after the government announced a big plan to train half a million youth in global IT skills, including Microsoft certifications.
While Google is still investing in Pakistan’s tech education, Microsoft’s quiet departure is seen as a wake-up call. Experts say Pakistan must now focus on policy stability, investor confidence, and better tech support if it wants to attract global companies and grow its IT sector.
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