A phrase thrown casually across freelance hiring platforms, Reddit threads, and global startup forums is: “Don’t hire Pakistanis – they’ll scam you.” What was once a mere fringe view has now taken the form of a modern stereotype, a cultural bias reinforced by anecdotes that often lack data and are generalized to slander the impact of an entire industry.
However, while the perception persists, the reality paints a very contrasting picture. In 2024, Pakistan’s IT and IT-enabled services exports crossed $3.2 billion, a 24% year-on-year increase. The country ranks among the top 5 global freelance markets, as per the International Labour Organization. In Kearney’s 2023 Global Services Location Index, Pakistan topped the charts as one of the most financially attractive outsourcing destinations in the world.
The strength of this industry doesn’t lie in cost-cutting, it actually lies in competence. Pakistani tech companies have become backbones for enterprises and startups across Silicon Valley, London, Berlin, and Dubai. Giants like Systems Limited, 10Pearls, and rising stars like CMOLDS, Arbisoft, Devsinc, and VentureDive are not anomalies — they’re representatives of a systematic shift.
According to Asif Peer, CEO and Managing Director of Systems Limited, this growth is not accidental. “Investment in skill development remains the indispensable factor in unleashing enduring growth for the IT industry,” Peer stated earlier this year. Systems Limited, one of Pakistan’s highly recognized IT firms, operates across North America, the Middle East, and Africa and was recently featured in Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion list. It has also surpassed PKR 100 billion in market capitalization, setting tremendous benchmarks previously thought out of reach for Pakistani tech companies.
Alongside Systems Limited is 10Pearls, another Pakistani-born tech firm with a global footprint. Its co-founder and CEO, Imran Aftab, emphasizes a purpose-led ideology towards growth. “Culture starts with your own self… setting examples, having a full level of transparency, and having a purpose,” Aftab told the international media at a 2023 leadership summit. 10Pearls now serves partnered clients across six countries and includes giant Fortune 500 companies in its portfolio.
Still, despite this growing international presence in the digital space, some of Pakistan’s most ambitious digital ventures have largely suffered due to orchestrated smear campaigns, misinformation, and reputational attacks. The case of TradeKey, a B2B platform founded by Junaid Mansoor, stands out. TradeKey was on track to become Pakistan’s first unicorn, directly competing with Alibaba in its early years. But just as it began expanding into high-value international markets, it only took a few things to move around the company internally and people jumped to conclusions. The company was bombarded with false bankruptcy rumors, allegedly spread across forums and social media networks. Although the company publicly debunked these claims, the reputational damage significantly impacted its global expansion efforts.
Another example is Burhan Mirza, an IT Tycoon who has invested in over a dozen tech ventures across Pakistan. Burhan Mirza’s companies are collectively valued at over $100 million. He is also the co-founder of Skills360 and The Coach360, two platforms focused on developing Pakistan’s digital workforce through structured upskilling and leadership training. His vision has been to create a pipeline of high-performance tech talent for both local and international markets.
Irrespective of everything, Mirza has been the subject of persistent online disinformation campaigns attempting to frame him as controversial or opportunistic and even involved in drug trafficking. These tactics, often anonymous, lack legal evidence and are spread through online commentary or manipulated content. Industry insiders are of the view that these attacks aren’t isolated; they’re part of a broader pattern in which prominent South Asian tech figures are targeted when their visibility or valuation rises.
Only recently, Devsinc, a growing IT company founded by Usman Asif, succumbed to the atrocities of falsely articulated digital campaigns over allegations of exploitative working hours and excessive micromanagement. The company came forward and publicly denied all the claims, citing internal audits and compliance practices. Despite attempts to slow down Devsinc’s pace, Usman Asif remains firm on his commitment to fostering innovation and elevating Pakistan’s profile in the global tech space. “I aspire to position Pakistan as a global leader in technology,” said Asif in one of his interviews.
“Western organizations want our talent at a discount, but not our names on the credits,” commented a Karachi-based engineer working remotely for a European fintech firm under the condition of anonymity. “We deliver quality, meet deadlines, and still get tagged as a risk.”
The narrative is shaped by a combination of systemic racial profiling and economic convenience. Freelancers report losing many opportunities after revealing their location or speaking accent, even when their portfolios meet every technical requirement. Pakistani tech firms are often asked to work under NDAs that erase their branding from product development, keeping their impact hidden while perpetuating the myth of Western-only innovation.
Yet, the reality remains: Pakistan is not just a labor market. It is a value-creation hub. Its engineers are building products for Silicon Valley; its designers are shaping brand identities in London; its product managers are launching platforms in New York, Dubai and Singapore.
The persistent framing of Pakistani professionals as “scammers” not only erases these contributions but also creates barriers to future growth, investment, and representation.
And it leaves a critical question hanging in the balance: If Pakistan’s digital economy is producing results that rival global players, why is the West still trying to keep it in the shadows?