Microsoft’s Pakistan Exit Clarified: No Employees Laid Off, Says IT Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has clarified the situation surrounding Microsoft’s reported closure in Pakistan, saying that no local employees have been laid off and the company remains in touch with the government.

Speaking to the media after an IT Committee meeting, the minister said Microsoft’s recent global restructuring includes job cuts between 15,000 and 16,000 worldwide, but in Pakistan, only four to five staff members were working, and none have been laid off so far.

“The ministry is actively engaged with Microsoft to ensure continued collaboration and presence in the country,” she added.

The clarification comes after online reports claimed Microsoft had officially shut down its office in Pakistan, ending a 25-year presence. Former country head Jawad Rehman referred to the move as the “end of an era” in a viral LinkedIn post.

However, the minister emphasised that Microsoft will continue its operations through regional offices and partners, a model it already follows in many countries.