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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.

1,099   992 Read Article

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BusinessCPKX+3

Why Forbes Calls Pakistan a Fintech Rising Star in 2026

Abdullah Awan - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan has emerged as a fintech rising star, per Forbes. Its roughly 450 fintech firms have raised around $391 million in venture capital, digital banks like Easypaisa are launching, and the country ranks third globally in crypto adoption. The goal is to lift adult financial inclusion from 64% in 2023 to 75% by 2028.

3,092   1,118 Read Article

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ResearchTechnologyPakistan+4

Why Most Pakistani Startups Struggle to Raise Money

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Most Pakistani startups struggle to raise funding due to a "progression problem": too few local investors, thin follow-on capital, and cautious money that bets on founders over ideas. Pakistan's startups raised about $1 billion since 2015, versus India's $160 billion. Founders can turn to non-dilutive grants like the Pakistan Startup Fund, revenue, and warm introductions.

1,530   2,183 Read Article

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TechnologyPakistanCP+1

Why Pakistan Halted the Ufone-Telenor 'e&' Rebrand

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

In July 2026, Pakistan's federal government halted the proposed rebranding of the merged Ufone-Telenor entity to "e&," the global brand of UAE-based Etisalat Group. Concerns included removing the word "Pakistan" from a strategically significant operator's identity, whether the Ufone board had authority to approve it, and roughly $800 million in outstanding dues. A legal review is underway.

2,512   854 Read Article

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TechnologyCPKX+3

Why Pakistan Must Move Beyond Freelancing to Sovereign AI

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Sovereign AI means Pakistan owns its AI model weights, training data, and inference infrastructure as national assets that earn export revenue. Tech experts propose a five-layer AI stack, energy, chips, infrastructure, models, and applications, built in sequence starting with reliable power, to move Pakistan up the value chain beyond low-margin freelancing and outsourcing.

3,126   1,430 Read Article

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ResearchTechnologyCP+2

Why Pakistani Engineers Are Leaving and What It Means

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan is facing a growing tech brain drain as engineers move abroad for better opportunities. This impacts startups, innovation, and economic growth. The solution lies in building strong local ecosystems, competitive opportunities, and policies that encourage talent retention and return.

2,446   1,419 Read Article

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TechnologyCPKX+1

Why Pakistani Engineers Are Leaving and What It Means

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan is experiencing large-scale skilled emigration, with official data showing roughly 11,000 engineers, 5,000 doctors, and 13,000 accountants leaving between 2024 and 2025. Drivers include economic instability, low pay, limited opportunity, and better prospects abroad. While remittances (over $38 billion in 2024-25) cushion the economy, critics warn the long-term loss of talent and innovation is harder to replace.

1,294   848 Read Article

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EducationResearchTechnology+4

Why Pakistani Freelancers Must Stop Undervaluing Work

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Pakistan does not lack freelance talent; it struggles with pricing strategy. Many freelancers offer high-quality work but charge low rates. By focusing on value, positioning, and confidence instead of price competition, freelancers can significantly increase their income and attract better clients globally.

1,825   2,054 Read Article

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BusinessResearchTechnology+3

Why Pakistani Remote Workers Should Get Paid in USD in 2026

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Global hiring data shows remote workers in high-inflation economies increasingly choose to be paid in USD or stablecoins to protect their earnings, 84.6% of Argentine workers chose USD over local currency. For Pakistani remote workers facing rupee volatility, getting paid and holding value in dollars (within legal channels) is becoming a smart financial-protection strategy, alongside positioning for specialized roles.

1,563   1,604 Read Article

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EducationCPKX+3

Why Storytelling Is the Most Powerful Marketing Strategy

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Storytelling is one of the most powerful marketing strategies because it creates emotional connections between brands and audiences. Instead of simply promoting products, storytelling allows businesses to communicate values, experiences, and human narratives that people can relate to, making messages more memorable, engaging, and persuasive.

2,820   1,970 Read Article

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BusinessTechnologyCP+5

You Don't Need to Code: Non-IT Freelancing Grew 188% in Pakistan

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Non-IT freelance earnings in Pakistan grew 188% in FY26, reaching $592 million from $205 million, outpacing IT freelancing's 49% growth. The top categories are content writing, digital marketing, graphic design, virtual assistance, and finance/business support, skills needing far less technical training than software development, making them the fastest entry point for beginners.

1,237   842 Read Article

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TechnologyCPKX+3

Zaigham Baryar: Building Stalwart Enterprises in Pakistan’s BPO Industry

Zarish - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Zaigham Baryar is the Founder and CEO of Stalwart Enterprises, a Pakistan-based company providing BPO, logistics, truck dispatch, brokerage, and technology solutions. Starting with a small team in 2021, the company expanded into a multi-branch organization serving international clients and creating employment opportunities.

2,658   1,238 Read Article

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ResearchCPKX+2

Zubeida Agha: The Mother of Pakistani Modern Art

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Zubeida Agha (1922-1997) is widely regarded as the mother of Pakistani modern art. After Pakistan's creation in 1947, she was the first artist to hold a modern art exhibition in the new nation. Trained in Lahore, London, and Paris, she introduced modernism and abstraction, and co-founded the country's first contemporary art gallery.

2,207   1,491 Read Article

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CPKXTechnology+5

Ali Ashfaq: From Data Engineer to Founder of DataRopes.ai

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Ali Ashfaq is a Lahore-based data engineer and the founder and CEO of DataRopes.ai, a company helping global businesses turn raw data into decision-making advantage. With nearly a decade across TenX, Systems Limited, and Coca-Cola CCI, and having engineered Pakistan's TASDEEQ credit bureau platform, he builds modern data architectures, pipelines, and AI systems for international clients.

3,091   2,109 Read Article

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TechnologyCPKX+4

Daniyal Abbas: From Microsoft Engineer to hytGenX Founder

Zarish - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Daniyal Abbas is a technology entrepreneur and former Microsoft engineer who founded hytGenX to help businesses implement practical AI solutions, automation systems, and scalable software platforms that improve operational efficiency.

798   27 Read Article

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CPKXTechnology+2

Faisal Iqbal: Building a Crypto and P2P Trading Business From Pakistan

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Faisal Iqbal is a Pakistani cryptocurrency and trading professional and the CEO of Currencycle, a company in the digital-asset and P2P trading space. A Platinum-tier merchant on Binance in Pakistan, he has, by his own account, six years of trading experience. His work reflects Pakistan's growing, and newly regulated, digital-asset ecosystem.

3,957   1,760 Read Article

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TechnologyPakistanCP+5

From an Ice Stall to a Fast-Growing Laptop Brand: The Story of Master Faheem

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Master Muhammad Faheem Imtiaz is the founder and CEO of Techno X Laptops, a fast-growing Pakistani pre-owned laptop brand. Raised in a small town helping run his family's ice-selling and repair businesses, he launched Techno X in early 2023 with minimal investment, building trust through a pioneering 100-day warranty while working a government job simultaneously.

2,037   1,914 Read Article

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PakistanCPKX+5

From YouTube Tutorials to a Creative Brand: Areesha Atif's Story

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Areesha Atif is a Karachi-based graphic designer and the founder of Areesha GFX, a creative brand she built after teaching herself Photoshop through YouTube in 2022. By her own account, she has completed 750+ projects for local and international clients, and now trains other women in freelancing through her Al Fatimah Online Academy.

2,779   1,313 Read Article

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TechnologyPakistanCP+6

Husein Mustafa: Building Pakistan's Largest Agency-Owner Community

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Husein Mustafa is a Pakistani entrepreneur, co-founder of Reality Cheque, one of Pakistan's largest communities for digital agency owners, and of RC DFY and TSG. Starting in sales through cold calling in 2018, he built expertise in outbound systems, then created a community and coaching ecosystem helping agencies move from inconsistent growth to predictable revenue.

2,929   981 Read Article

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EducationCPKX+3

iPhone 17 Price in Pakistan 2026: Full Guide + PTA Tax

Syed Asfer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

In 2026, iPhone 17 prices in Pakistan range from about Rs. 400,000 for the base model to nearly Rs. 900,000 for the Pro Max, depending on storage. PTA tax adds roughly Rs. 129,000 to Rs. 213,000 per device. Note that FBR, not PTA, calculates the tax live at registration based on the current dollar rate.

7,157   2,107 Read Article

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BusinessPakistanCP+3

Manmeet Singh: The Founder of Desi Khazanay Bringing Old Herbal Remedies to Gen Z

Zarish - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Manmeet Singh is the founder and CEO of Desi Khazanay, a Pakistani herbal wellness brand. Inspired by his family's herbal traditions and an old 1988 hair care nuskha, he built a company focused on natural hair care, wellness, and herbal products designed for modern consumers, especially Gen Z.

4,138   2,145 Read Article

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TechnologyCPKX+4

Najeeb Ullah Saleem - Building Global Opportunities for Pakistani Entrepreneurs

Zarish - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Najeeb Ullah Saleem is a Pakistani entrepreneur and co-founder of BRIO INC, a consultancy helping freelancers, startups, and online businesses with LLC formation, tax compliance, payment solutions, and international business setup services.

2,131   29 Read Article

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CPKXTechnology+1

Rao Muhammad Usman Basheer: Freelancing to Global Recognition

Zarish - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Rao Muhammad Usman Basheer is a Pakistani entrepreneur and founder of RAO Digi Services who started his career as a freelancer in 2020 and grew into a digital agency owner specializing in SEO, digital marketing, branding, and PR services, later gaining international recognition for his entrepreneurial achievements.

3,212   1,679 Read Article

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TechnologyPakistanCP+7

Saad Munir: "The Agency Guy" Scaling Global Agencies From Lahore

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Saad Munir, known as "The Agency Guy," is a Pakistani entrepreneur from Lahore and the CEO and founder of HexaClicks, a white-label fulfillment company helping digital agencies scale. With around 15 years in the global agency space, he champions a "systems beat hustle" philosophy and hosts the podcast SynQ with Saad, mentoring founders across the industry.

2,128   1,258 Read Article

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TechnologyPakistanCP+5

Usama Ahmed: The Software Engineer Who Built a Travel Brand From Scratch

Muhammad Umer - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Usama Ahmed is the Lahore-based founder and CEO of Paradise Tours Pakistan, which he started in 2018 as a nineteen-year-old software engineering student with just a Facebook page and pocket money. Choosing tourism over a tech career, he built the company over roughly eight years into a trusted travel brand serving corporate and international clients through relentless honesty and quality.

1,967   1,803 Read Article

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CPKXOur People

Zeeshan Khan Connected Pakistan Brand Ambassador & Showbiz Star

Zarish - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

Zeeshan Khan is a Pakistani actor known for his role in the 2018 film Azaadi and television dramas like Benaam and Bad Dua. Recognized for his versatile performances, he has also worked as a host and brand ambassador. Currently, he represents Connected Pakistan, bridging entertainment with the country’s growing digital ecosystem.

2,579   2,191 Read Article

ResearchTechnologyCP+3

Future of AI Jobs in Pakistan: Opportunities and Career Trends

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

AI jobs in Pakistan are growing rapidly as businesses adopt artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. Careers in AI, data science, and automation offer high-paying opportunities, while startups and global companies increasingly seek skilled professionals to implement AI-driven solutions.

3,533   2,160 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.

2,030   1,751 Read Article

BusinessTechnologyCP+2

Why E-Commerce Is Becoming a Popular Investment in Pakistan

Syed - Connected Pakistan · CP News Desk

E-commerce investments in Pakistan are gaining attention as investors seek alternatives to traditional financial returns. With the rapid expansion of online retail and digital platforms, businesses are creating scalable investment opportunities that combine technology, entrepreneurship, and global market access.

2,554   1,456 Read Article