Latest news with #MicrosoftPakistan
India.com
11 hours ago
- 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 Let us also tell you which giant company has completely withdrawn its hands from Pakistan.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
12 hours ago
- 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.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- 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
19 hours ago
- 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
a day ago
- 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.
