The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has officially granted a license to KOKO Tech Pakistan (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, to operate Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services in Pakistan.

According to the SECP, KOKO Tech Pakistan will introduce modern, AI-powered credit assessment systems along with globally proven digital infrastructure. This is expected to bring more innovative and data-driven financing solutions to the local market.

The initiative aims to improve access to consumer financing, especially for young individuals, freelancers, and small businesses that often face challenges in obtaining loans through traditional banking systems.

With the backing of Alibaba’s global expertise and strong financial resources, KOKO Tech Pakistan is well-positioned to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), promote e-commerce growth, and contribute to Pakistan’s transition towards a more inclusive, technology-driven financial ecosystem.

The SECP also noted that this move represents a direct inflow of foreign investment into Pakistan’s financial sector.

Speaking on the development, SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said that the entry of Alibaba Group will enhance competition and drive innovation in the country.

He further added that Pakistan continues to be an attractive destination for international investors, thanks to its large population, increasing digital adoption, and improving regulatory environment.

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Over the past decade, Pakistan’s freelance economy has been widely celebrated as a success story, an accessible pathway for young professionals to earn globally without leaving their homes. However, by early 2026, signs of structural stress have become increasingly visible.

Freelancers across major platforms are reporting declining orders, reduced earnings, and growing uncertainty. While anecdotal at first, emerging patterns suggest a broader transformation underway one driven by technological disruption, shifting global demand, and local systemic challenges.

From Rapid Growth to Structural Fragility

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption worldwide, and Pakistan benefited significantly from this shift.

• The country was ranked among the fastest-growing freelance markets globally.
• Freelancers contributed hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange annually.
• Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork became central to this growth.

Despite this success, much of the freelance activity was concentrated in low-complexity services such as basic graphic design, data entry, and entry-level content writing. These categories, while accessible, are inherently vulnerable to automation.

AI as a Structural Disruptor

The introduction of generative AI tools particularly ChatGPT has significantly altered the economics of freelance work.

Recent research indicates a measurable decline in demand for tasks that are easily automated, including writing, basic coding, and repetitive digital services.

A separate multi-institutional study reported an approximate 21% decline in demand for automation-prone freelance jobs following the introduction of generative AI tools.

This shift reflects a broader trend: businesses are increasingly able to generate content, code, and design outputs internally using AI, reducing reliance on external freelancers for routine work.

Market Confidence and Infrastructure Constraints

Beyond technological disruption, infrastructure reliability has also influenced market behavior.

Industry bodies such as Pakistan Software Houses Association have highlighted concerns around:

• Internet reliability
• Policy unpredictability
• Communication disruptions

In global outsourcing markets, reliability is critical. Even minor inconsistencies can prompt clients to shift work to more stable regions.

Platform Dynamics and Increasing Competition

Freelance platforms have also evolved under increasing global competition.

On platforms like Upwork:

• Competition has intensified due to oversupply
• Paid bidding systems have increased the cost of acquiring work

This has made entry and sustainability more difficult, particularly for new or mid-level freelancers.

The Emergence of Low-Value Digital Labor

Another shift is the growing role of freelancers in AI training ecosystems.

Companies such as Scale AI rely on distributed workers for data labeling and model evaluation tasks. While these opportunities provide income, they are typically low-paying and task-based, offering limited long-term growth.

This reflects a transition from independent freelancing toward commoditized digital labor.

Skill Mismatch and Educational Gaps

A structural issue underlying these changes is the mismatch between current skill development and evolving market demand.

Many training programs still emphasize outdated freelance skills, while global demand is shifting toward:

• AI integration
• Automation systems
• Advanced digital problem-solving

Without adaptation, this gap may continue to widen.

The Shift from Tasks to Systems

The freelance economy is transitioning from a task-based model to a systems-based model.

Traditional freelancers typically sell time and complete tasks manually.
Modern AI-enabled professionals, by contrast, design systems that automate workflows and deliver scalable outcomes.

This shift fundamentally changes how value is created and priced in the digital economy.

Opportunities in the New Landscape

Despite current challenges, new opportunities are emerging in areas such as:

• AI automation and workflow design
• Prompt engineering
• AI-assisted development
• Business process optimization

Professionals who adapt to these areas are better positioned to remain competitive.

Policy and Ecosystem Considerations

To sustain growth in the Pakistan’s freelance economy, structural improvements are needed:

• Updated and industry-relevant curricula
• Investment in applied AI education
• Reliable internet infrastructure
• Alignment between policy and global technological trends

Conclusion

Pakistan’s freelance economy is not disappearing, it is evolving.

The current slowdown reflects a deeper structural transformation driven by automation, shifting demand, and systemic inefficiencies.

For individuals and institutions alike, the path forward depends on adaptation. The divide is no longer between freelancers and clients, but between those who can effectively leverage AI and those who cannot.

Links:

•  “The Impact of ChatGPT Launch on the Demand for Content Generation Services in the Freelancing Market,” SSRN Working Paper.
  Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4686658
•  “Who Is AI Replacing? The Impact of Generative AI on Online Freelancing Platforms,” research associated with Harvard Business School and partner institutions (Imperial College Business School, DIW Berlin). Widely cited in secondary analyses reporting ~21% decline in automation-prone freelance jobs.
• https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/02/17/pakistani-freelancers-earn-557-million-in-h1-fy26-driving-growth-in-services-exports/
• https://www.payoneer.com/resources/no-ports-no-tariffs-how-pakistans-online-service-exporters-stay-resilient/

The post Pakistan’s Freelance Economy at a Crossroads: AI Disruption, Policy Gaps, and the Rise of a New Digital Elite appeared first on Techlist.

Pakistan’s IT and IT-enabled services sector recorded $2.97 billion in export inflows during July to February FY2026, marking a 19.6% year-on-year increase. However, a steady drop in monthly receipts over the past two months has tempered expectations around the government’s $5 billion annual target.

IT Exports Hit $2.97 Billion in July to February FY2026

According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan’s ICT export earnings grew by 19.78% year-on-year, reaching $2.61 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year ending June 2026, up from $2.18 billion during the same period last year. Cumulative inflows reached $2.97 billion by the end of February 2026, compared with $2.48 billion in the same period of FY2025.

IT exports now account for over 10.8% of Pakistan’s total exports. This is considered a historic milestone, reflecting the country’s gradual economic shift from traditional goods like textiles and rice toward high-value digital services.

Monthly Receipts Show a Two-Month Decline

Despite the cumulative growth, monthly figures reveal a softening trend. The sector peaked at $437 million in December 2025, before declining to $374 million in January 2026 and $365 million in February 2026, a drop of over 16% in just two months.

Analysts project exports to grow 18 to 20% in FY2026, which could bring the total to around $4.5 billion. This figure still falls short of the ambitious $5 billion target set under the government’s national economic plan, Uraan Pakistan. At the current monthly run rate of approximately $365 million, full-year IT exports are likely to plateau around $4.4 to $4.5 billion.

Geopolitical and Regional Pressures Add Uncertainty

The slowdown in monthly inflows is partly attributed to broader global uncertainty. Ongoing regional tensions have prompted clients, particularly across the US and GCC markets, to delay digital transformation and expansion projects. This has reduced near-term order flow for Pakistani IT firms.

The growing tendency of international companies to outsource software development, cybersecurity, and digital transformation projects has boosted Pakistan’s profile as an affordable IT services provider. Even so, regional instability continues to introduce uncertainty into forward planning for many of these engagements.

Beyond export figures, Pakistan’s broader startup ecosystem reflects a market in a phase of cautious maturation, with genuine momentum tempered by structural funding constraints.

Ecosystem Value Surpasses $4 Billion

Pakistan’s venture capital-backed startups have surpassed a combined enterprise value of $4 billion, up 3.6 times since 2020, according to the January 2026 Pakistan Tech Report by Dealroom.co and inDrive. The growth rate outpaces larger ecosystems including India, New York, Paris, and Dubai, placing Pakistan among emerging “New Frontier” tech markets.

The country now hosts over 170 VC-backed startups, with roughly 17 “breakouts” that have raised between $15 million and $100 million, two scale-ups that have crossed $100 million in funding, and 13 “Colts” generating between $25 million and $100 million in annual revenue.

According to TechList Pakistan, which tracks startup funding activity across the country, deal flow in early-stage rounds, particularly pre-seed and seed, has remained consistent through Q1 2026. Fintech, healthtech, and B2B SaaS have emerged as the three most active verticals during this period.

Startup Funding Rebounds in 2025

Pakistani startups secured over $74.23 million in equity and hybrid financing in 2025, spanning pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds across fintech, mobility, healthtech, and other sectors. According to Data Darbar, local startups raised about $36.6 million in equity across 10 disclosed rounds, a modest increase from $22.5 million the previous year, though deal volume slipped slightly from 15 to 14 transactions.

Fintech and Healthtech Lead Investment Activity

The fintech sector continues to dominate investment activity, with startups such as Haball and Metric securing sizeable Pre-Series A and seed funding rounds. Analysts say fintech’s appeal lies in its ability to integrate with banking infrastructure, simplify payments, and tap into an underserved market of SMEs and digital consumers.

Haball secured a $52 million Pre-Series A funding round led by Zayn VC and backed by Meezan Bank. The company has scaled its platform to handle over $3 billion in payments, disbursing more than $110 million in financing while supporting thousands of SMEs and multinational clients.

Healthtech is emerging as the second major growth engine. MedIQ’s $6 million Series A and Xylexa’s $1 million seed round highlight strong investor appetite for solutions that address healthcare accessibility, a critical need in a country of over 240 million people.

No Unicorns Yet: The Capital Gap Remains

Despite the momentum, no Pakistani startup has yet reached unicorn status or surpassed $100 million in annual revenue. Limited domestic capital is widely identified as the primary bottleneck holding the ecosystem back from the next level of scale.
Globally, venture capital investment reached $512.6 billion in 2025, up 30.8% from 2024, with artificial intelligence alone accounting for $270.2 billion. For Pakistan, these global trends highlight the structural challenge of competing in capital-intensive sectors like AI without matching infrastructure or investment scale.

Female-Founded Startups Gain Ground

One of 2025’s notable trends is the rise of female-led startups, which raised $8.8 million in disclosed equity, accounting for more than 24% of total funding. Startups including Shadiyana, BusCaro, Metric, MedIQ, and Lean Outset were among the female-founded or co-founded ventures contributing to this shift. TechList Pakistan has closely documented this trend through its founder coverage and funding trackers.

Policy Reforms Supporting Export Growth

The State Bank of Pakistan raised the permissible retention limit in Exporters’ Specialised Foreign Currency Accounts (ESFCA) from 35% to 50%. This allows IT exporters to retain a larger share of their dollar earnings, a reform that has provided greater liquidity for companies reinvesting in global operations.

Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction, conducted in March 2026, is expected to unlock new product categories in healthtech, edtech, IoT, and industrial automation that have remained structurally inaccessible on existing infrastructure. Building quality talent, empowering grassroots entrepreneurship, and accelerating local AI adoption are identified as the three pillars needed to position Pakistan as a competitive global IT export hub.

Long-Term Target: $10 Billion by 2029

National long-term targets foresee $10 billion in annual IT exports by 2029, a goal that requires a significant acceleration from the current growth trajectory. IT exports now constitute over 40% of Pakistan’s total services exports, supporting foreign exchange stability, high-value employment, and entrepreneurship. This cements the sector as a core pillar of Pakistan’s broader economic strategy.

Closing the gap between the current pace and the $5 billion FY2026 target will require reversing the recent monthly decline, broadening client geographies beyond the US and Gulf, and continuing to scale startups into globally competitive businesses. The structural groundwork is being laid, but sustained execution remains the sector’s defining test going forward.

Sources: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Data Darbar, Dealroom.co / inDrive Pakistan Tech Report (January 2026), Topline Research, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), TechList Pakistan.

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The platform, named Wukong, enables businesses to automate complex workflows by coordinating multiple AI agents within a single interface. It can handle tasks such as document editing, spreadsheet management, meeting transcription, and research, making it a comprehensive productivity tool. Currently, Wukong is available through an invitation-only beta program.

The launch follows the company’s recent restructuring under the newly formed Alibaba Token Hub (ATH) business group, highlighting a stronger focus on enterprise-level AI solutions. Wukong is positioned as the flagship product of the Wukong Business Unit within ATH.

Read: Nvidia bets on AI inference as chip revenue opportunity hits $1 trillion

Users can access Wukong either as a standalone desktop application or via DingTalk, Alibaba’s workplace collaboration platform used by over 20 million corporate users.

In addition, the platform is expected to integrate with other popular communication tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and WeChat, according to the company’s official statement.

The move comes amid rising interest in AI agent technologies in China, largely driven by the popularity of OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent tool that has recently gained traction across the tech community.

This growing trend has pushed major tech players, including ByteDance, Tencent, and AI startup Zhipu AI, to introduce similar solutions, despite increasing concerns from regulators over potential security risks.

Chinese companies, many of which provide open-source AI models that are free to download, have significantly reduced token prices as competition intensifies across the domestic market.

Leading models such as DeepSeek, Qwen, and ChatGLM are now priced 10 to 20 times lower than their U.S. counterparts. This aggressive pricing strategy is helping Chinese firms expand their global footprint, but it is also raising concerns about long-term profitability in the sector.

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Jazz International Holding Limited, a subsidiary of global telecom group VEON incorporated in the UAE, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling stake in TPL Insurance Limited, a publicly listed insurance company in Pakistan. The acquisition deal is valued at approximately Rs4.15 billion, marking a significant development in Pakistan’s digital financial services landscape.

TPL Insurance operates as a digital-first insurance provider, offering a range of insurance products including auto, health, fire, and property coverage. The company has built a strong presence in Pakistan’s InsurTech sector with a technology-driven operating model and established distribution network.

According to company data, TPL Insurance recorded Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs5.7 billion and issued more than 277,000 insurance policies as of December 31, 2025. The company holds a general insurer license and maintains an AA credit rating, reflecting its financial stability and operational performance in the insurance sector.

The acquisition aligns with Jazz’s broader strategy to expand its digital services ecosystem and strengthen its presence in financial technology and digital financial services.

Aamir Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Jazz, stated that the acquisition represents a key milestone in the company’s long-term vision of creating a comprehensive digital platform that extends beyond telecom services.

He noted that integrating insurance services into Jazz’s digital financial portfolio, which includes JazzCash, Mobilink Bank, and FikrFree — will enable the company to provide broader financial protection services to millions of users across Pakistan.

Pakistan’s insurance penetration remains significantly low compared to global averages, leaving a large portion of the population without financial protection against risks. Industry experts believe that digital distribution channels can play a major role in bridging this gap by making insurance products more accessible and affordable.

Through this acquisition, Jazz aims to leverage its large digital user base and fintech infrastructure to scale technology-driven insurance products and accelerate the adoption of digital insurance services in the country.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to necessary regulatory approvals. The deal between TPL Corp Limited and Jazz International Holding Limited will also require clearance from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) before completion.

Once finalized, the acquisition could significantly strengthen the digital insurance ecosystem in Pakistan and contribute to expanding financial inclusion through integrated fintech and insurance services.

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Arsyan Ismail – Early first of ai.com domain name

A domain name registered by a Malaysian child in the early days of the internet has become one of the most valuable digital assets ever sold. AI.com, originally secured in 1993 by Arsyan Ismail when he was just 10 years old, has been sold for USD 70 million in a landmark transaction that underscores the growing strategic value of ultra-premium web addresses.

Arsyan Ismail registered the two-letter domain using his mother’s credit card, reportedly charging $100 at the time. The choice was simple: the letters matched his initials, “A” and “I.” There was no market forecast or long-term investment framework behind the decision — only instinct and curiosity during the internet’s formative years.

More than three decades later, that early registration has culminated in one of the largest publicly known domain sales. The buyer, Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, completed the purchase in cryptocurrency in April 2025. The deal remained private for months before becoming public, drawing global attention across technology and investment circles.

A Career Built Before the AI Boom

While the sale has dominated headlines, it represents just one chapter in Ismail’s broader technology career.

A computer science graduate from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, Ismail began building online platforms in the late 1990s. In 2003, he helped launch Kawanster, one of Malaysia’s earliest social networking platforms, at a time when online communities were still emerging globally. Though it did not expand internationally, it introduced localized social networking to Malaysian users well before global platforms took over the market.

He later contributed to Malaysia’s first blog advertising network, Nuffnang, during a period when digital advertising infrastructure in Southeast Asia was still developing. His experience also includes serving as a senior web developer at Friendster, where he worked on large-scale systems during the platform’s peak traffic years.

Over the past decade, his focus shifted toward blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies. By 2014, he was already exploring Bitcoin-related initiatives, years before digital assets gained mainstream institutional recognition. His work centered on building secure, transparent transaction systems designed to withstand technical and regulatory scrutiny.

Digital Scarcity as Strategy

Beyond AI.com, Ismail has accumulated a portfolio of rare digital identifiers — including ultra-short domain names, minimalist email addresses such as a@a.ai, Ethereum Name Service assets, and distinctive numeric phone numbers. To many, such holdings may appear unconventional. In digital branding terms, however, brevity and memorability carry substantial long-term value.

Two-letter domains in particular represent extreme scarcity. With only 676 possible combinations in the Latin alphabet, they function as digital equivalents of prime real estate. Long before artificial intelligence became a dominant global industry, AI.com carried inherent strategic weight due to its simplicity and universal recognition.

AI.com’s Next Chapter

The domain’s new ownership has shifted attention from the transaction price to its intended application. The AI.com platform is expected to support decentralized AI agents designed to operate collaboratively, automating tasks and optimizing workflows while prioritizing encrypted, secure data handling.

As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in enterprise and consumer systems, premium digital real estate tied directly to the sector’s name carries both symbolic and commercial significance.

A Lesson in Long-Term Thinking

For early-stage entrepreneurs, the story highlights the power of patience in digital investing. What began as a $100 domain registration in the early 1990s evolved into a multi-decade hold that intersected with blockchain growth and the global AI surge.

Ismail’s trajectory reflects consistent engagement with emerging technologies rather than reactive trend-chasing. From early social networks to digital advertising infrastructure and blockchain systems, his career has followed the arc of the modern internet itself.

As online ecosystems grow more crowded, compact and memorable digital identities are increasingly positioned as strategic assets. The AI.com sale demonstrates that in the digital economy, scarcity combined with foresight can yield extraordinary returns — even when the original decision was made by a ten-year-old with little more than intuition.

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LAHORE — vivo has officially launched its latest flagship smartphone, the X300 Pro, in Pakistan, positioning it as a premium device focused on professional-grade imaging, high performance, and long-term reliability.

The X300 Pro is built around a 200-megapixel ZEISS APO telephoto camera, paired with a ZEISS gimbal-grade main camera designed to deliver stable, high-clarity images that closely reflect natural human vision. The camera system is complemented by a 50MP ZEISS wide-angle front camera, enhancing detail and sharpness for selfies and video calls.

Photography features include ZEISS Natural Portrait for accurate skin tones, Portrait Snapshot across all focal lengths, and advanced shooting modes such as 20x long-range motion capture and telephoto flower and bird photography. Creative depth effects are supported through ZEISS Mirotar-style bokeh. On the video side, the device supports 4K recording at 120 frames per second with Dolby Vision, as well as 10-bit Log video, aimed at professional and enthusiast creators. Stage Mode 2.0 enables motion-freeze photography and dual-view video recording using both front and rear cameras simultaneously.

The smartphone runs on the all-new OriginOS 6, offering a redesigned user experience focused on speed, smoothness, and intelligent task management. The operating system is powered by ultra-core computing, memory fusion, and dual rendering engines to ensure fluid performance during daily use. Features such as AI-powered Origin Island provide smart reminders, while the built-in Office Kit supports cross-device productivity. vivo has also committed to extended software support, promising five years of operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates, along with enhanced file protection through a dedicated Private Space.

Under the hood, the vivo X300 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 9500 chipset, delivering fast response times and stable performance even under intensive workloads. The device features a ZEISS Master Color Display with advanced eye protection hardware, designed to maintain visual clarity while reducing eye strain in different lighting environments.

Battery performance is another key highlight, with a 6,510mAh BlueVolt battery supporting 90W wired FlashCharge and up to 40W wireless charging, aimed at users who demand long-lasting endurance and fast recharging.

In terms of design, the X300 Pro features a unibody 3D glass construction with a seamlessly integrated camera module. The rear Coral Velvet Glass finish offers a fingerprint-resistant, skin-friendly texture, while the flat display is framed by ultra-slim 1.1mm symmetrical bezels for an immersive viewing experience. The device is available in two color options: Phantom Black and Dune Brown.

vivo X300 Pro Price and Availability

The vivo X300 Pro is now available across Pakistan at a retail price of PKR 349,999. The device can be purchased from authorized vivo outlets nationwide as well as official online stores. Each purchase includes a vivo X300 Pro VIP Box, featuring vivo Buds, a VIP card, a tempered glass protective film, and a vivo PhotoLens Magazine.

The vivo smartphone comes with a one-year warranty, a 15-day free replacement policy, and a six-month warranty for accessories. The X300 Pro is approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and supports all local mobile networks. Customers using Zong 4G SIMs can also receive 12GB of free mobile internet over six months, subject to applicable terms.

With its emphasis on advanced imaging, refined design, and extended software support, the vivo X300 Pro marks a significant addition to Pakistan’s premium smartphone segment.

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Uplift AI, a Pakistan-based voice technology startup, has raised $3.5 million in seed funding as it looks to expand voice-first AI products and create thousands of local jobs.

The round was led by Y Combinator, the Silicon Valley accelerator behind companies like Airbnb, Dropbox and GitLab, with participation from Indus Valley Capital. Other investors include Pioneer Fund, Conjunction, Moment Ventures, and a group of angel investors from Silicon Valley.

Founded by former Apple and Amazon engineers Zaid Qureshi and Hammad Malik, Uplift AI is focused on building voice AI systems for Pakistan’s regional languages, including Urdu, Punjabi and Balochi. The company’s goal is simple: enable people to interact with technology by speaking naturally in their own language.

Its flagship model, Orator, is designed to speak Urdu with near-human fluency, a capability the startup believes is critical in a country where literacy remains a major barrier to digital access.

Uplift AI says its tools are already gaining traction. More than 1,000 developers are using its APIs to build real-world applications ranging from FIR registration bots to voice-based health intake systems for rural clinics.

The company argues that voice-first technology is particularly important for Pakistan, where an estimated 42% of adults are unable to read, limiting participation in the digital economy.

“Voice technology can unlock access to knowledge and opportunity for millions of people,” said Hammad Malik, CEO of Uplift AI. “We started Uplift AI to make that impact now, not years down the line.”

Investors see a large opportunity in this approach. Aatif Awan, Partner at Indus Valley Capital, said voice is often the most practical gateway to the digital economy in emerging markets.

“Built by engineers with deep experience at Apple and Amazon, Uplift AI is creating the core voice infrastructure needed to unlock this market at scale,” he said.

The implications extend across mass-market sectors such as banking, healthcare, agriculture and government services,  areas where text-based digital solutions often fail to reach large segments of the population.

“In Pakistan, agriculture doesn’t lack effort; it lacks accessible intelligence,” said Sultan Raja, Head of AI Transformation at Syngenta Pakistan. “Uplift AI’s voice technology allows us to deliver that intelligence directly to farmers in their own language, helping them adopt AI and improve yields.”

According to CTO Zaid Qureshi, Uplift AI has taken a fully in-house approach to development, handling data collection, labeling and model training internally, a decision driven by the limitations of off-the-shelf solutions for regional languages.

“That investment is paying off,” he said. “We regularly hear from customers who say our models outperform OpenAI and Google for these languages.”

With the new funding, the startup plans to expand voice-first AI support across all major Pakistani languages. While the company sees long-term global potential in serving underserved languages worldwide, Pakistan remains its immediate priority.

“In the short to medium term, our focus is entirely on Pakistan,” Awan told Business Recorder.

Malik said approximately $1 million from the funding will be allocated to data collection and labeling,  an effort expected to generate thousands of local jobs. The remaining capital will be used for research and development, particularly in advancing speech recognition and speech generation for Pakistan’s five major languages.

While Uplift AI is not currently working directly with government departments, Malik noted that its platform is already open to startups and small businesses.

“More than 1,000 developers are already using our API,” he said. “Any startup or small business can sign up and start building today.”

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Pakistan has officially entered the AI-powered governance era with the launch of its first-ever government-backed AI avatar, “Laila,” unveiled by the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication at a high-profile technology event.

The announcement, made in the presence of senior government officials and industry leaders, signals Pakistan’s growing ambition to position itself as an emerging AI-driven nation by embedding artificial intelligence across governance, public services, and innovation ecosystems.

Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the AI avatar as more than a symbolic milestone, calling it a practical step toward integrating advanced technologies into everyday life. According to the ministry, Laila will be used in educational programs, citizen engagement platforms, and digital public services.

The launch aligns with Pakistan’s National AI Roadmap, which outlines ambitious targets including training 1 million AI professionals by 2030, funding 1,000 AI startups, supporting 400 university-led AI projects annually, and developing 50 sector-specific AI models tailored to local challenges.

“Our government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence across all spheres of national life and ensuring Pakistan plays a leading role in the global AI economy,” the minister stated.

Designed as an interactive digital interface, Laila is expected to assist users through multilingual support, improve accessibility to digital services, and help bridge the digital divide by making AI-driven platforms more intuitive for the public.

Tech industry experts have welcomed the move, calling it a strategic shift from policy planning to real-world AI implementation.

“This initiative shows how AI policy can translate into public-facing impact. It’s a step toward building a future-ready digital Pakistan,” an industry analyst noted.

With this launch, Pakistan joins a growing list of countries experimenting with AI avatars to modernize government communication and citizen services—marking a notable moment in the country’s digital transformation journey.

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Coursera has announced plans to acquire rival online education company Udemy in an all-stock transaction that values the combined business at $2.5 billion. The deal comes as the online education sector continues to consolidate following a post-pandemic slowdown and increased investor scrutiny.

Under the agreement, Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera for each Udemy share they own, valuing Udemy at approximately $930 million, according to Reuters calculations. Following the announcement, Coursera shares rose about 4%, while Udemy stock surged nearly 22%.

Focus on AI and Workforce Upskilling

Both companies believe the merger will strengthen their ability to serve corporate clients seeking workforce training—particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and software development. As generative AI rapidly reshapes industries, employers are investing heavily in reskilling and upskilling their employees.

“At a high level, this deal makes sense both strategically and financially,” said Stephen Sheldon, an analyst at William Blair. He noted that the companies’ complementary content libraries and overlapping markets could unlock meaningful cost synergies.

Deal Timeline and Valuation

Based on Coursera’s most recent closing price, the offer values Udemy shares at $6.35, representing a premium of about 18.3%. The companies expect the transaction to close in the second half of next year, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Different Models, One Platform

Coursera is known for partnering with universities and institutions to offer degree programs and professional certificates, while Udemy operates a marketplace of independent instructors, selling individual courses and enterprise subscriptions. The merger aims to combine these strengths into a single, more competitive platform.

Investor Caution Persists

Despite strong narratives around AI-driven growth, investors remain cautious about online education stocks due to intense competition, pricing pressures, and uncertain returns on AI investments. Udemy shares are down roughly 35% year-to-date, while Coursera has declined about 7%, leaving both companies trading well below their post-IPO highs.

If approved, the Coursera–Udemy merger could mark one of the most significant consolidations in online education, positioning the combined firm to better compete in the fast-growing AI training market.

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