Pakistan, July 3 -- Microsoft has officially ended its operations in Pakistan after 25 years, according to media reports. The move follows recent global layoffs by the tech giant, which included nearly 9,100 employees-about 4% of its workforce. Although Microsoft never had a full corporate office in Pakistan, it maintained liaison offices that served enterprise, education, and government sectors.

Former President Arif Alvi called the decision a troubling sign for Pakistan's future. He claimed Microsoft once considered Pakistan for major investment plans. However, political instability and regime changes shifted Microsoft's focus to Vietnam in 2022. Alvi said the loss of this opportunity reflects a growing trend of global tech firms pulli...