Microsoft closes its Pakistan office, lays off five employees

ISLAMABAD : Global tech giant Microsoft has decided to close its representative office in Pakistan and lay off five local employees.

According to media reports, the company has formally ended its operations in the country. Most of its services will now be handled through regional offices and local partners.

In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said that the company would continue to serve Pakistani users through nearby offices, a model it is already using successfully in many countries.

The spokesperson added that Microsoft would maintain its presence in Pakistan through collaborations with local partners and regional teams.

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This move is part of the company’s ongoing global restructuring as it shifts focus towards artificial intelligence (AI).

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced it would lay off four per cent of its global workforce, out of a total of 228,000 employees. In May, the company had already let go of 6,000 workers as part of its reorganization plan.

The company stated that it aims to streamline operations with fewer managers and enhance its products, processes, and roles.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication said global tech firms are shifting from on-premises software deployment to a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) model and Microsoft’s layoffs are in line with this global trend.