The Startup Ecosystem of Pakistan

Pakistan has 4 cities in the top 1000 and is one of South Asia’s best countries for setting up a startup.

COUNTRY RANKING

Pakistan’s startup scene remains stable in 2023 on the 76th position, having gained 1 more city in the global top 1000.

Population

235.8
Million

Regional Ranking

2nd
0
In South Asia

Global Ranking

76th
0
Worldwide

Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Overview

white and gray concrete buildings during daytime
As one of the most populous countries in the world, Pakistan’s economy has massive potential to grow. For this to happen, digitalization and successful startups will be a critical element. Recently, the digital infrastructure in Pakistan has seen improvement with a focus on the 5G spectrum auction for the 2022-2024 fiscal year. This came together with legal frameworks that regulate and promote digital payments, investment, and credit under the Digital Banking Policy (SBP). In addition, the government maintains Special Technology Zones offering several tax exemptions and incentives. Last but not least, the Companies Amendment Act (2021) has recognized startups in its scope and introduced a legal framework to them.


Pakistan has come a long way with its legal framework, but there are still some areas that require more clarity when it comes to taxation or incentives for domestic investments. The country’s turbulent political climate is not helping to create certainty and stable policies to boost the local startup ecosystem. A challenge for Pakistani startups is the absence of success stories and shut down of several startups such as AirLift due to a funding crunch. The country needs to come up with more ways of providing its startup ecosystems with qualified and trained personnel, as well as more funding.

The country has not yet produced its first unicorn, but we think this will happen soon if the startup scene recovers from the contraction of funding and continues to attract investment.

Startups

Pakistan Top Startup Industries

Transportation icon
Transportation
#51 worldwide

144 startups

Marketing & Sales icon
Marketing & Sales
#55 worldwide

58 startups

Edtech icon
Edtech
#58 worldwide

33 startups

Ecosystem HealthCheck

Pakistan Ecosystem Health Check

The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Pakistan has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...

  • Overperformance
  • Performance equal to global ranking
  • Underperformance
ParameterParameter Global rankParameter rank change since 2022ResultContribution to total scoreRank gain / loss due to parameter
Total Score7600.824100%0
Quantity Score80-10.24629.82%-2
Sample size of startups51318228.77%0
Sample size of accelerators38-397170%-1
Sample size of coworking spaces3001820%0
Community Score99N/A0.0091.04%0

ECOSYSTEM

Browse the startup ecosystem database of Pakistan

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Ecosystem

The Startup Ecosystem in Pakistan

In 2023, Pakistan register a rise in Transportation startups. Some of the most notable success stories in this industry are those of , SadaPay.

Global Rank

Pakistan is ranked within the top 100 startup ecosystems globally.

Top Industries

Pakistan’s startup scene is best represented in Transportation, Marketing & Sales, and in and Edtech.

Top Cities for Startups in Pakistan - Ranked by StartupBlink
StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
Rows:
2023 National Rank & Change ▲
2023 National Rank & Change City
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Global Rank & ChangeTotal Score
Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries
Quantity Score
Quality ScoreBusiness Score
1st
0
235th
+
56
2.130
00.00
00.00
00.00
2nd
0
248th
+
57
1.970
00.00
00.00
00.00
3rd
0
396th
+
42
0.837
00.00
00.00
00.00
4th
0
982nd
new
0.117
00.00
00.00
00.00
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Startups

Notable Startups in Pakistan
SadaPay startup icon
SadaPay
Dawaai startup icon
Dawaai
Bazaar Technologies startup icon
Bazaar Technologies

Startups

Successful Transportation startups in Pakistan
Bykea startup icon
Bykea
Truck It In startup icon
Truck It In
DOSAFAR startup icon
DOSAFAR

Featured Startup Ecosystems

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