Connected Pakistan Blog | Tech News, AI, Digital Insights & Startup News from Pakistan & Beyond

AI Is Entering Pakistan's Classrooms, From Primary School to the Teacher's Desk. Is It Ready?

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

AI Is Entering Pakistan's Classrooms, From Primary School to the Teacher's Desk. Is It Ready?

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

AI is rapidly entering Pakistan's education system: Punjab is introducing AI in primary schools, AI is being added as a school subject (an elective for grades 9-12), and most teachers now use AI tools. It offers real promise as a "teacher multiplier," but faces honest challenges: weak infrastructure, teacher readiness, missing AI policies, and concerns about children using AI.

2,655 1,820 Read Article

Pakistani Startups Are Getting Bought, Not Built to Last. Is That Success or a Warning?

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Pakistani Startups Are Getting Bought, Not Built to Last. Is That Success or a Warning?

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistani startups increasingly achieve "success" through acquisition, being bought by foreign or regional firms, rather than scaling into large independent companies. Examples include Virtuans AI (acquired by a US firm), Krave Mart (by inDrive), and others. It's genuinely a valid win for founders, but also reflects Pakistan's "scale-up gap": a lack of the capital and ecosystem to build lasting companies at home.

2,474 1,382 Read Article

Pakistan's First Digital Banks Are Here. Will You Ever Visit a Branch Again?

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Pakistan's First Digital Banks Are Here. Will You Ever Visit a Branch Again?

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

A digital bank is a fully licensed bank that operates entirely through apps and online channels, with no physical branches. Under the State Bank's Digital Bank framework, Pakistan now has its first licensed digital banks (Easypaisa Bank being the first), which, unlike mobile wallets, can accept deposits and lend money like traditional banks, but branchlessly.

2,560 1,547 Read Article

Starlink Still Isn't Live in Pakistan. Here's What's Holding It Back, and What It Could Change

Latest

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+7

Starlink Still Isn't Live in Pakistan. Here's What's Holding It Back, and What It Could Change

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Starlink isn't live in Pakistan yet. It has registered with the SECP and holds provisional PSARB registration, but its full registration with the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board remains incomplete, so it can't yet get a PTA license. Delays also involve data-security and national-security reviews. Satellite internet could help connect remote areas once approved.

2,692 1,274 Read Article

Pakistanis Are Building the World's Biggest AI Companies, Just Not in Pakistan

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Pakistanis Are Building the World's Biggest AI Companies, Just Not in Pakistan

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

2,629 2,319 Read Article

Pakistan's Payment Paradox: Everyone's Going Digital, So Why Does Cash on Delivery Still Rule?

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+3

Pakistan's Payment Paradox: Everyone's Going Digital, So Why Does Cash on Delivery Still Rule?

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's e-commerce "payment paradox": official data shows ~93% of online transactions are wallet/account-based, yet Cash on Delivery (COD) still dominates actual online shopping, driven by buyer trust issues and habit. COD carries real costs for sellers, including high return rates (25-35%) and cash-flow delays. Shifting buyers to prepaid through incentives and trust-building benefits sellers significantly.

1,477 1,577 Read Article

Pakistan Is Betting on China for Its AI Future. Smart Move, or Risky Dependence?

Latest

BusinessResearchTechnology+9

Pakistan Is Betting on China for Its AI Future. Smart Move, or Risky Dependence?

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan is deepening AI and technology cooperation with China, linking its AI infrastructure and skills ambitions with China's advanced capabilities. It offers genuine opportunity: access to compute, hardware, expertise, and investment Pakistan lacks. But experts caution that importing hardware alone won't build a sustainable AI ecosystem, Pakistan must pair cooperation with genuine local capability-building to avoid mere dependence.

2,813 1,136 Read Article

Vibe Coding Just Trained 50,000 Pakistanis. Can You Really Build Software Without Coding?

Latest

EducationBusinessTechnology+8

Vibe Coding Just Trained 50,000 Pakistanis. Can You Really Build Software Without Coding?

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

"Vibe coding" means building software, apps, websites, games, by describing what you want in natural language and letting AI generate the code, instead of writing it manually. Pakistan's AI Seekho 2026 program (by MoITT, Google, Telenor, and Innovista) taught it nationwide, engaging 50,000+ developers and producing 1,500+ AI solutions. It lowers the barrier to building software dramatically.

2,483 1,838 Read Article

TechnologyPakistanCP+5

Muazzam Alam Nayyar: The Lahore CTO Making AI Usable for Businesses That Can't Build It

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Muazzam Alam Nayyar is a Lahore-based technologist, CTO of US company Be Wise since 2017, and founder of NayyarTech.ai. He built his second act around AI implementation, helping non-technical businesses actually use AI (via automation and custom agents) rather than competing with free AI platforms, an approach summed up in his motto: "Shortcut Nahi, System Hai."

3,043 2,355 Read Article

"PKR Tax-Free Salary"? What Remote Workers in Pakistan Really Need to Know About Tax

Latest

BusinessCPKX+1

"PKR Tax-Free Salary"? What Remote Workers in Pakistan Really Need to Know About Tax

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

"PKR tax-free salary" in Pakistani remote job ads usually refers to the favorable tax treatment of foreign IT/IT-enabled export income, not a true exemption from all tax. Remote workers earning foreign income can access low rates (like the 0.25% export regime for registered freelancers), but tax treatment varies by whether you're a freelancer or employee, and filing is still required.

2,288 1,584 Read Article

Pakistan Now Has AI Rules. If You're Building AI Here, You Need to Know Them

Latest

TechnologyPakistanGovernment+7

Pakistan Now Has AI Rules. If You're Building AI Here, You Need to Know Them

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan has established a formal AI governance framework, the National AI Policy (2025) and the Islamabad AI Declaration (2026), a nine-principle commitment to sovereign, responsible, capability-driven AI. For founders and builders, it introduces AI risk classification, governance expectations, sovereign-cloud preferences, and oversight via the Pakistan Digital Authority and a new AI Directorate. It's a maturing, still-developing framework worth understanding early.

3,093 1,034 Read Article

KonnectX Summit Lahore Returns: A Night at the Lahore Fort for Pakistan's Builders

Latest

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+6

KonnectX Summit Lahore Returns: A Night at the Lahore Fort for Pakistan's Builders

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

KonnectX Summit Lahore Season III is Connected Pakistan's premium summit for business, technology, and leadership, held October 31, 2026, at the Royal Swiss Hotel, Lahore. It brings together CEOs, founders, investors, top freelancers, and changemakers for high-value networking, plus an exclusive "History by Night" Lahore Fort tour and a premium dinner at Bastion Cafe.

1,336 2,294 Read Article

The Great Freelance Sorting: Why the Middle Is Vanishing on Fiverr and Upwork

Latest

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+5

The Great Freelance Sorting: Why the Middle Is Vanishing on Fiverr and Upwork

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

The freelance market is "sorting": Fiverr's stock and active buyers are near lows (buyers down ~22% year-on-year), yet spend-per-buyer rose ~15.6% and $1,000+ projects grew. AI is absorbing cheap, commodity gigs (logos, basic writing) while demand for higher-value, specialized work grows. Freelancers who move upmarket into skilled, AI-augmented work will thrive.

2,391 1,179 Read Article

The Smartest Way to Buy a Phone in Pakistan (Without Overpaying)

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

The Smartest Way to Buy a Phone in Pakistan (Without Overpaying)

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

To buy a smartphone smartly in Pakistan: buy last-generation flagships a few weeks after new launches (often September-October) for big discounts, decide new vs. used based on budget, always verify a phone's PTA-approved status to avoid blocking and hidden tax, match specs to your real needs, and consider 5G-readiness for future-proofing without overpaying.

1,826 2,267 Read Article

Pakistan Isn't the Freelance Nation You Think. The First Official Count Proves It

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Pakistan Isn't the Freelance Nation You Think. The First Official Count Proves It

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's first official gig-economy measurement (Labour Force Survey 2024-25) shows online gig work is just ~2.9% of total employment, and digital freelancers are a minority, over 97% of gig workers do physical platform labor like ride-hailing and delivery. This punctures the "freelance superpower" narrative and highlights gaps in data, policy, and worker protections.

2,708 2,365 Read Article

Pakistan Just Warned the UN About AI. Here's Why That Actually Matters

Latest

CPKX

Pakistan Just Warned the UN About AI. Here's Why That Actually Matters

Abdullah Awan - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

At a UN Security Council session on AI, Pakistan warned against "AI-driven inequality" and a competitive AI race "no one can win safely." Deputy PM Ishaq Dar argued AI's risks, as a dual-use technology affecting peace and security, can't be managed by a handful of companies or countries alone, and called for inclusive, non-fragmented global AI governance.

2,168 2,011 Read Article

Social Media Is Becoming Pakistan's Biggest Store. Here's How Sellers Should Respond

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Social Media Is Becoming Pakistan's Biggest Store. Here's How Sellers Should Respond

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Social commerce, selling directly through social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, is rapidly becoming a dominant force in Pakistani e-commerce. Driven by mobile-first, video-loving young consumers, "social media is now the front of the store." If TikTok Shop launches full checkout in Pakistan, the sector could grow dramatically. Sellers should build a social presence alongside marketplaces.

2,759 1,182 Read Article

Pakistan's Tax Return Deadline Is September 30. Here's How to File Yours

Latest

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+7

Pakistan's Tax Return Deadline Is September 30. Here's How to File Yours

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's income tax return filing deadline for Tax Year 2026 is September 30, 2026. Anyone whose income exceeds the taxable threshold, including many freelancers, salaried people, and business owners, should file via FBR's IRIS portal. Filing keeps you on the Active Taxpayer List (lower tax rates); missing it brings penalties and higher withholding taxes. Verify current dates with FBR.

3,054 1,765 Read Article

Bankers Say AI Is the "Only Path" to Bank Pakistan's Unbanked. Are They Right

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Bankers Say AI Is the "Only Path" to Bank Pakistan's Unbanked. Are They Right

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

At the Future Banking Forum Karachi 2026, industry leaders called AI the "only pathway" to meaningful financial inclusion for Pakistan's 250 million people. AI can genuinely help, credit scoring via alternative data, fraud detection, cheaper digital services, and chatbots, but people are unbanked for reasons (trust, ID, income, literacy) that AI alone can't fully solve. It's a powerful tool, not the whole answer.

2,558 1,028 Read Article

Innoventure Club '26 Just Wrapped in Swat's Utror Valley. Here's What Happened

Latest

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+6

Innoventure Club '26 Just Wrapped in Swat's Utror Valley. Here's What Happened

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Innoventure Club '26, by Connected Pakistan and TechTrip, took place 18–21 September 2026 in Izmis Meadows, Utror Valley, Swat. Around 124 participants and 8 mentors spent four days off the grid, trekking to Izmis Lake and Waterfall, sharing bonfires and workshops, and building community, a wilderness reset for Pakistan's tech and digital professionals.

1,849 1,992 Read Article

140 Million Pakistanis Have Internet Coverage but Don't Use It. That's the Real Problem

Latest

ResearchTechnologyPakistan+4

140 Million Pakistanis Have Internet Coverage but Don't Use It. That's the Real Problem

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Around 140 million Pakistanis live in areas covered by mobile broadband but don't use mobile internet, one of the world's largest "usage gaps" (per GSMA 2026). This shows Pakistan's digital divide is no longer mainly about network coverage, but about affordability, digital literacy, relevant content, and devices. Closing it requires tackling these barriers, not just building more towers.

2,494 1,216 Read Article

How to Get Into a Startup Incubator in Pakistan (and Whether You Should)

Latest

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+4

How to Get Into a Startup Incubator in Pakistan (and Whether You Should)

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Startup incubators like Pakistan's National Incubation Center (NIC) offer early-stage founders mentorship, a structured curriculum, free coworking space, investor connections, and networking, usually without taking equity. With NICs in seven cities and applications opening periodically (including current cohorts), founders apply online, get screened, and pitch to a panel. They're valuable for the right early-stage founder.

2,454 1,553 Read Article

How Your Small Business in Pakistan Can Actually Use AI (Without a Tech Team)

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+2

How Your Small Business in Pakistan Can Actually Use AI (Without a Tech Team)

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Small businesses in Pakistan can use AI without a tech team or big budget. Practical applications include automating WhatsApp customer replies, scanning invoices and receipts to cut data entry, analyzing sales to spot trends, generating marketing content, and drafting communications. The best approach: start with your single biggest time-waster, use one simple tool, then expand gradually.

2,955 1,039 Read Article

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+5

Usman Bawa: The SEO Writer Who Nearly Got Fired, Then Built an Academy

Zarish - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Usman Bawa is a Pakistani SEO content writer, LinkedIn specialist, and Top Rated Upwork freelancer who is the founder and CEO of Intechskills, a digital skills academy. After a near-firing early in his career taught him to write for business results, not just fill pages, he built a client practice and now trains others in SEO, freelancing, and content.

2,146 1,751 Read Article

Why Can't Pakistani Freelancers Use PayPal? The Real Cost of Payment Friction

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Why Can't Pakistani Freelancers Use PayPal? The Real Cost of Payment Friction

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

PayPal and Stripe remain unavailable to Pakistani freelancers in 2026, mainly due to regulatory and compliance issues, not technical ones. Freelancers rely on Payoneer, Wise, and local wallets instead, but the fee gap between the best and worst method can be 3-5% per invoice, costing the sector hundreds of millions annually. Emerging fintech and stablecoins may eventually help.

1,268 992 Read Article

Pakistan's IT Industry Just Had Its Best Year Ever, While Cutting Jobs. What's Going On?

Latest

CPKXFeatured

Pakistan's IT Industry Just Had Its Best Year Ever, While Cutting Jobs. What's Going On?

Abdullah Awan - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's IT industry posted record exports of $4.6 billion in FY2025-26 (up ~21%), yet is simultaneously shedding jobs faster than in recent history. The paradox is driven largely by AI, which boosts productivity and revenue while automating routine, entry-level work. It signals a shift toward "jobless growth", more output from fewer, higher-skilled workers.

2,025 2,054 Read Article

Connected Pakistan Off the Record: Where Pakistan's Business Leaders Meet Behind Closed Doors

Latest

BusinessTechnologyCP+4

Connected Pakistan Off the Record: Where Pakistan's Business Leaders Meet Behind Closed Doors

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

"Connected Pakistan Off the Record" is a new series of exclusive, invite-only industry meetups by Connected Pakistan and The Hive, held in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Designed for meaningful conversations beyond the stage, they bring together CEOs, founders, startups, agency owners, top freelancers, and changemakers to build genuine connections and explore collaborations.

1,422 1,035 Read Article

5G Is Finally Coming to Pakistan. Here's When You'll Actually Get It

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

5G Is Finally Coming to Pakistan. Here's When You'll Actually Get It

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan is close to launching 5G: the spectrum auction is expected soon, after which telecom operators need roughly 5-6 months to build infrastructure before 5G services begin in major cities. So realistic 5G availability is likely several months away, starting in key urban areas. You don't need to rush to buy a 5G phone immediately.

1,604 1,023 Read Article

He Lost a $120 Million Startup. Now Silicon Valley Is Backing His Comeback

Latest

BusinessTechnologyPakistan+6

He Lost a $120 Million Startup. Now Silicon Valley Is Backing His Comeback

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Usman Gul, co-founder of Airlift (a Pakistani startup that raised $120 million before collapsing in 2022), has returned with a new AI startup, Metal. In September 2026, Metal raised $4.5 million in seed funding led by a16z Speedrun and Y Combinator, marking one of the most notable Pakistani founder comebacks and a lesson in resilience.

1,793 1,242 Read Article

Pakistan Has a Dozen Free Tech Training Programs. Which One Should You Actually Do

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Pakistan Has a Dozen Free Tech Training Programs. Which One Should You Actually Do

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan offers many free tech training programs in 2026, including DigiSkills 3.0, the PMYP Digital Skills Program, HEC's AI training (which recently graduated 6,000 students), and free Google and Meta courses. The best choice depends on your goals and level. But completing a course isn't enough, turning training into income requires practice, projects, and persistence.

2,542 2,369 Read Article

Groceries in 30 Minutes: How Quick Commerce Is Quietly Taking Over Pakistani Cities

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Groceries in 30 Minutes: How Quick Commerce Is Quietly Taking Over Pakistani Cities

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Quick commerce (q-commerce) delivers groceries and essentials in 10-30 minutes via local "dark stores." In Pakistan, it's growing fast: global ride-hailing firm inDrive acquired pioneer Krave Mart in 2026 to build a super app, while Pandamart and others compete. It promises convenience for urban consumers but faces real profitability and logistics challenges.

2,660 1,611 Read Article

Fiverr and Upwork Are in Trouble. What Happens to Pakistan's Freelancers If the Platforms Die?

Latest

TechnologyCPTechnology

Fiverr and Upwork Are in Trouble. What Happens to Pakistan's Freelancers If the Platforms Die?

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Major freelance platforms are struggling in 2026: Upwork's stock is down about 56%, Fiverr's down over 40% with its first-ever revenue decline forecast, both are losing buyers and raising fees, as AI erodes low-value gigs. For platform-dependent Pakistani freelancers, this is a warning to diversify clients and build direct relationships beyond single marketplaces.

2,500 2,202 Read Article

A Unicorn With Pakistani Roots Just Emerged. But Is Fasset Really "Pakistan's Unicorn"?

Latest

TechnologyCPKX

A Unicorn With Pakistani Roots Just Emerged. But Is Fasset Really "Pakistan's Unicorn"?

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Fasset, a UAE-based stablecoin fintech co-founded by Lahore-born Daniel Ahmed, reached a $1 billion valuation in August 2026 after a $68 million Series C led by SBI Group. While celebrated as a "Pakistani unicorn," it's more accurately a global fintech with Pakistani roots, its major Pakistan plans (real estate tokenization) are promising but still largely aspirational.

2,861 1,315 Read Article

Pakistan's Crypto Rules Just Went Live: What the September 5 Deadline Means for You

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+1

Pakistan's Crypto Rules Just Went Live: What the September 5 Deadline Means for You

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) opened its crypto licensing regime in August 2026, setting a September 5 deadline for existing crypto firms to apply for a No Objection Certificate or cease operations. It's a regulation framework, not a ban, aiming to bring crypto under formal oversight with rules on compliance, banking access, and consumer protection.

1,822 1,980 Read Article

Get Hired as a Full Employee by a Foreign Company, From Pakistan. Here's How EOR Works

Latest

TechnologyPakistanCP+7

Get Hired as a Full Employee by a Foreign Company, From Pakistan. Here's How EOR Works

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

An Employer of Record (EOR) lets a foreign company hire a Pakistani as a full-time employee, with salary, benefits, and a proper contract, without setting up a local office. A third-party EOR provider (like Deel or Remote) legally employs you on the company's behalf, handling payroll and compliance. It's a fast-growing alternative to freelancing.

3,007 1,225 Read Article

Pakistan Beats the UK, Germany, and China in Tech Talent. One Thing Holds It Back

Latest

CPKXFeatured

Pakistan Beats the UK, Germany, and China in Tech Talent. One Thing Holds It Back

Abdullah Awan - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan ranks 16th of 193 countries in the 2026 Global Outsourcing Talent Index, ahead of the UK, Germany, France, China, and Vietnam, driven by top scores in cost (97/100) and talent (8th globally). But its digital infrastructure scores just 30/100. Fixing this single weakness could lift Pakistan to 11th globally.

3,106 1,971 Read Article

The Ball at the World Cup Was Made in Pakistan. Here's the Business Story Behind Sialkot

Latest

TechnologyPakistanCP+2

The Ball at the World Cup Was Made in Pakistan. Here's the Business Story Behind Sialkot

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Sialkot, Pakistan produces around 70% of the world's hand-stitched footballs, exporting roughly 40 million a year to brands like Adidas, Nike, and Puma. Local firm Forward Sports has made the official FIFA World Cup match ball for four consecutive tournaments (2014-2026). The industry earns Pakistan hundreds of millions in exports annually.

1,598 975 Read Article

Every AI Prompt Drinks Water. What That Means for Thirsty Pakistan

Latest

ResearchTechnologyCP+2

Every AI Prompt Drinks Water. What That Means for Thirsty Pakistan

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

AI consumes significant water, mainly to cool the data centers running it. Estimates vary widely (from under 2ml to over 150ml per query), but aggregate use is large: Google reported around 6.4 billion gallons in 2023. For water-stressed Pakistan, this matters as the country considers data-center ambitions amid an already severe water crisis.

2,784 827 Read Article

Free Google AI for Pakistani Students: Inside the New Google-Pakistan Deal

Latest

EducationTechnologyPakistan+6

Free Google AI for Pakistani Students: Inside the New Google-Pakistan Deal

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan and Google signed an agreement to expand tech cooperation, giving Pakistani students free one-year access to Google AI tools including Gemini and AI Plus. The deal also establishes an AI Center of Excellence in Islamabad, expands Google Career Certificates, and applies AI to agriculture and small businesses, aiming to boost digital skills and IT exports.

3,188 1,118 Read Article

Pakistani Freelancers Just Earned $175M in a Month. Here's How to Keep More of Yours

Latest

CPKXInformation Technology

Pakistani Freelancers Just Earned $175M in a Month. Here's How to Keep More of Yours

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistani freelancers earned a record $175 million in July 2026, up 45.5% year-on-year. To keep more of their earnings, freelancers can register with PSEB to pay just 0.25% tax on foreign income (versus 1% unregistered, or up to 45% otherwise), provided they receive payments through formal banking channels and meet remittance conditions.

1,842 1,510 Read Article

Ufone and Telenor Just Became One. What It Means for Your SIM, Bill, and Signal

Latest

CPKXTechnology

Ufone and Telenor Just Became One. What It Means for Your SIM, Bill, and Signal

Abdullah Awan - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Telenor Pakistan merged into Ufone's parent company PTML on July 1, 2026, ceasing to exist as a separate entity. The combined operator (~72 million subscribers) becomes Pakistan's second-largest, reshaping the market from four major players to three. For now, existing Telenor and Ufone SIMs keep working normally, with regulators imposing conditions to protect consumers and competition.

2,929 840 Read Article

AI Just Started Solving Problems Humans Couldn't. What It Means for Pakistan

Latest

TechnologyPakistanCP+5

AI Just Started Solving Problems Humans Couldn't. What It Means for Pakistan

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

In August 2026, AI crossed a threshold from completing tasks to contributing original, verifiable research, an AI system reportedly solved 10 long-unsolved math and computer-science problems with checkable proofs. Combined with AI assistants crossing a billion users each and collapsing costs, it signals AI becoming a genuine tool for discovery, with real opportunities and challenges for Pakistan.

3,355 1,078 Read Article

Temu's Prices Exploded in Pakistan. Was Taxing It Smart or a Mistake?

Latest

CPKXTechnology+1

Temu's Prices Exploded in Pakistan. Was Taxing It Smart or a Mistake?

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's 2025-26 budget introduced a 5% digital presence tax and higher customs on foreign e-commerce platforms like Temu and AliExpress, ending their duty-free advantage. Temu prices then surged up to 300%, partly from the tax and partly its own "price buffering." The move aims to protect local sellers and capture revenue, but raises costs for consumers.

3,249 2,024 Read Article

ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini in 2026: Which AI Should Pakistanis Actually Use?

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+2

ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini in 2026: Which AI Should Pakistanis Actually Use?

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

In 2026, there's no single "best" AI assistant, the right one depends on your task. Broadly: ChatGPT is a strong all-rounder with the widest features; Claude excels at writing and coding; and Gemini integrates best with Google tools. All offer free tiers usable in Pakistan. The smart approach is matching the tool to the job.

3,436 2,221 Read Article

Innoventure Club '26: A Wilderness Reset in Utror Valley for Pakistan's Tech Community

Latest

HealthBusinessTechnology+7

Innoventure Club '26: A Wilderness Reset in Utror Valley for Pakistan's Tech Community

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Innoventure Club '26 is a 4-day wilderness and tech experience by Connected Pakistan and TechTrip, held 18–21 September 2026 in Utror Valley's Izmis Meadows, Swat. Designed for developers, freelancers, founders, and creators, it blends trekking to Izmis Lake and Waterfall, bonfires, mentorship, and workshops — an off-the-grid reset from screen fatigue.

2,707 901 Read Article

BISP Digital Wallets: How Pakistan Is Banking 10 Million Poor Women

Latest

TechnologyCPKX+2

BISP Digital Wallets: How Pakistan Is Banking 10 Million Poor Women

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is shifting payments for over 10 million poor women to CNIC-linked digital wallets in 2026, aiming for 100% digital payments. With 8 million+ free SIMs distributed and an interoperable system allowing withdrawals at any partner agent, it ends long queues and middlemen deductions, a major financial-inclusion and women's-empowerment step.

2,584 1,706 Read Article

100 Tech Heroes of Pakistan 2026: Nominations Are Open

Latest

CPKX

100 Tech Heroes of Pakistan 2026: Nominations Are Open

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

100 Tech Heroes of Pakistan 2026 is a Connected Pakistan initiative recognizing 100 individuals making meaningful impact in the country's technology ecosystem. First introduced at CPC23 in 2023, this new edition welcomes founders, developers, freelancers, researchers, educators, and changemakers. Nominations are open, you can nominate yourself or someone deserving, based on impact rather than titles.

2,781 2,334 Read Article

Pakistan's New Data Policy Gives You the Right to Know Who Accessed Your Data

Latest

CPKXFeatured

Pakistan's New Data Policy Gives You the Right to Know Who Accessed Your Data

Abdullah Awan - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan's draft National Data Governance Policy 2026 establishes the country's first unified framework for government data, declaring it a national asset held in trust for citizens. It grants Pakistanis new digital rights, including knowing who accessed their personal data, correcting errors, requesting erasure, and demanding human review of AI-driven decisions, alongside stronger privacy and breach-notification rules.

3,046 872 Read Article

Real Stories Real Impact
Real Insights

Latest Articles

Featured Articles

Premium Articles

Technology

Freelancing

All Articles

Real Stories Real Impact Real Insights

Latest Articles

Featured Articles

Premium Articles

Technology

Freelancing

All Articles

Real Stories Real Impact
Real Insights