Microsoft is winding down its operations in Pakistan, concluding a 25-year presence in the country.
The Redmond-based tech giant confirmed to TechCrunch on Friday that it is adjusting its operational strategy in Pakistan and will now support customers through resellers and “other closely located Microsoft offices.”
“This change will not affect our customer agreements or the level of service provided,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“We’ve successfully implemented this model in several other countries. Our customers remain a top priority, and they can continue to expect the same high-quality service moving forward,” the spokesperson added. Reports Technology News
According to sources speaking with TechCrunch, the move will impact five Microsoft employees in Pakistan. The company reportedly did not maintain engineering resources in the country, unlike in India and other emerging markets. Instead, local employees focused primarily on selling Azure and Office products.
The decision is part of a broader global restructuring effort. Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunication characterized Microsoft’s exit as a segment of the company’s “wider workforce-optimization program.” Earlier this week, Microsoft announced a 4% reduction in its global workforce, eliminating approximately 9,000 positions.
To ease the transition, Microsoft had already begun shifting licensing and commercial contract responsibilities for Pakistan to its European hub in Ireland in recent years. Certified local partners have been handling most of the day-to-day service operations, the ministry noted.
