WEB DESK: 2024 turned out to be a tough year for Pakistan’s developer community. The number of active developers fell 26 percent to just 1,400, while Android saw the sharpest decline, with new app releases dropping 55 percent to 1,700 titles, according to a report published by Data Darbar.
Game development wasn’t spared either, falling 31 percent to 756 titles. iOS development remained steady, producing 784 apps, keeping one part of the ecosystem afloat. Altogether, Pakistani developers launched 2,500 apps and games over the year.
Experts point to stricter app store approvals and complicated registration processes as key reasons for the slowdown. Some developers even set up accounts abroad to bypass payment and taxation challenges. Still, local apps like Easypaisa, Time Warp Scan, and My Zong proved popular, each surpassing 10 million downloads despite the tough environment.
Gaming makes a mark in the region
Even with global recognition still limited, Pakistan’s gaming sector is punching above its weight. Pakistan ranked second among peer markets for mobile game releases in 2024, launching a total of 1,053 games, with 764 on Android and 289 on iOS. This placed Pakistan ahead of countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, and Egypt, trailing only Vietnam, which released 2,715 titles.
Local studios remain largely invisible on the international stage, often focusing on hyper-casual games that face stiff competition. But there are signs of change. The National Technology Fund recently invested PKR 2.52 billion to launch the Centre of Excellence in Gaming and Animation, aiming to mentor startups and develop homegrown talent.
Mobile usage keeps climbing
Even with fewer new apps, Pakistan’s mobile market kept growing. Users downloaded 3.56 billion apps in 2024, up 9.2 percent from last year, making Pakistan the ninth-largest app market globally. Time spent on mobile apps jumped 14.1 percent to 79.1 billion hours, outpacing regional peers.
Better mobile infrastructure is supporting this surge. Broadband subscriptions rose 8.4 percent to 134.8 million, and data usage nearly doubled to 8.4 GB per user per month since 2020. Locally assembled smartphones are also back in force, growing 47 percent to 31.38 million units and meeting 95 percent of domestic demand.
Top apps and emerging trends
Social media and communication apps dominated downloads. TikTok led the pack with 32.4 million installs, followed by CapCut, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Telegram nearly tripled its user base to 12 million, while VPN apps spiked after the ban on X (formerly Twitter).
E-commerce saw new competition, with Chinese newcomer Temu reaching 8 million downloads and overtaking long-standing leader Daraz. Digital payment apps strengthened their hold, with JazzCash hitting 19.67 million monthly active users and Easypaisa topping downloads at 12.1 million. Streaming platforms like Tamasha shifted focus to paid subscriptions, which surged 367 percent to 1.35 million.
Despite the challenges, Pakistan’s digital economy remains lively and full of potential. With initiatives like CEGA, local developers may finally find their moment on the global stage.