In a strong rebuttal to recent Indian media reports, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has dismissed claims that Microsoft has closed its operations in Pakistan, calling them “false, misleading, and part of ongoing anti-Pakistan propaganda.”

The ministry clarified in an official statement that Microsoft never had a permanent office in Pakistan, to begin with. Instead, the global tech giant has been operating through a liaison office, while its licensing and commercial operations for Pakistan have always been handled from Ireland, as part of the company's global workforce optimisation program.

“Microsoft has not closed any office in Pakistan. The narrative spread by Indian media is completely baseless,” the ministry stated, emphasising that the company’s engagement in Pakistan remains active and strong.

On July 4, several media outlets reported that Microsoft had ended its 25-year presence in Pakistan, claiming it was part of the company’s broader restructuring strategy. However, Microsoft itself clarified that while it is shifting its operational model in Pakistan, it will continue serving Pakistani customers through resellers and nearby regional offices.

A Microsoft spokesperson told TechCrunch, “Our customer agreements and service will not be affected by this change. We use this model successfully in many other countries worldwide.”

The move affects only five employees in Pakistan, with no engineering operations having ever been established in the country. The local team mainly managed sales for products like Azure and Office.

The ministry further explained that Microsoft had already shifted the licensing and commercial management for Pakistan to its European hub in Ireland years ago. Most day-to-day operations are handled by certified local partners, a practice aligned with the company’s global workforce optimisation program.

Despite the operational shift, the Ministry reassured the public, saying, “We remain in constant contact with Microsoft and other global tech firms. There are no signs that Microsoft is pulling out of Pakistan or reducing its commitment.”

Interestingly, Microsoft’s shift comes at a time when Pakistan is planning to offer IT certifications from global leaders like Google and Microsoft to half a million young people. While some see the recent move as a challenge, government officials insist that it won’t affect ongoing collaboration.

Meanwhile, Google continues to expand its footprint in Pakistan. The tech giant pledged $10.5 million to Pakistan’s education sector last year and is planning to manufacture half a million Chromebooks locally by 2026.