Microsoft Shuts Pakistan Operations After 25 Years, Former Country Head Reflects On Exit

Microsoft has officially ended its operations in Pakistan, marking the end of a 25-year presence in the country. The news was first shared by Jawwad Rehman, the founding head of Microsoft Pakistan, through a post on LinkedIn.

For some time, Microsoft’s Pakistan office had already scaled down to a small liaison setup with around five employees. These employees were mainly involved in promoting Azure and Office products.

No Impact on Customers, Says Microsoft

Confirming the move, a Microsoft spokesperson told TechCrunch that the decision is part of a global restructuring of the company’s operations. The spokesperson explained that Microsoft is simply changing how it operates in Pakistan, not exiting the market entirely.

“Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change,” the spokesperson said. Instead of having a local office, Microsoft will now serve its Pakistani customers through resellers and nearby offices in other countries. The company added, “We follow this model successfully in a number of other countries around the world. Our customers remain our top priority.”

No Engineering Presence in Pakistan

Unlike in countries like India, where Microsoft has large engineering teams and multiple offices, Pakistan did not have any engineering resources. The closure is seen as a practical shift rather than a sudden exit.

Reflection From Microsoft Pakistan’s First Head

In a heartfelt LinkedIn post titled ‘End of an Era… Microsoft Pakistan’, Jawwad Rehman, who led the launch of Microsoft in Pakistan in June 2000, expressed sadness over the closure.

He wrote, “The last few remaining employees were formally informed, and just like that, an era ends.” Rehman reflected on the early days of building Microsoft Pakistan and said the shutdown is more than just a business decision—it’s a sign of the changing business environment in the country.

He questioned what had changed in Pakistan over the years, suggesting that the current situation made it difficult even for global tech leaders like Microsoft to continue. “It’s time to reflect,” he wrote, calling on the nation to evaluate the values and leadership that once made such ventures possible.

Rehman ended his post on a spiritual note, saying, “If your work leaves behind impact, integrity & inspiration... then know that Allah’s favor was with you.”