In a deeply emotional and symbolic moment for Pakistan’s tech and mobility sector, Careem has officially announced it will suspend its ride-hailing service in Pakistan starting July 18, 2025.
The announcement was made public via a LinkedIn post by Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder of Careem. The decision, as per Sheikha, was not taken lightly and comes as a result of several converging factors, including Pakistan’s ongoing economic challenges, increasing competition, and shifting global capital priorities.
🚗 A Legacy That Redefined Mobility
Careem launched its operations in Pakistan in 2015, at a time when on-demand rides, digital payments, and tech-driven logistics seemed like distant dreams for many. But within a few short years, Careem became not just a popular app, but a movement that transformed urban mobility, enabled financial inclusion, and empowered thousands of “Captains”—its network of drivers—across the country.
Our Pakistan team was brilliant and fearless – bold, determined, and literally on a mission to create millions of jobs for Captains across the country,
wrote Sheikha in his post.
🧭 What Led to the Exit?
According to the CEO, Careem’s ride-hailing service faced unsustainable pressure due to:
- Macroeconomic headwinds in Pakistan
- Escalating market competition
- Global investment shifts affecting capital availability
Maintaining a dependable and safe service became increasingly unfeasible given these factors. The result: a hard but necessary decision to suspend one of Pakistan’s most iconic tech-led services.
🌱 Not an Exit, But a Pivot
While the ride-hailing service is sunsetting, Careem is not exiting Pakistan entirely.
Careem Technologies, the company’s spinout focused on building the “Everything App,” will continue operating and growing from Pakistan, particularly through its engineering and product development hubs. Currently, around 400 team members are based in Pakistan, with over 100 roles open as the company expands into food, grocery delivery, payments, and more.
Pakistan remains central to Careem’s DNA — its very first line of code was written in Pakistan, Sheikha reminded followers.
💬 What’s Next?
This isn’t necessarily the final goodbye.
“I sincerely hope to bring Careem’s services back to the country in the future,” Sheikha concluded, while expressing deep gratitude to the team, especially early leaders like Junaid Iqbal, for shaping Careem’s journey in Pakistan.
🇵🇰 A Chapter Ends, But the Story Continues
Careem’s departure from ride-hailing marks the end of an era in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem — a story filled with hustle, bold vision, and countless lives changed. Yet, the company’s continued presence in tech development and its roots in the country point to a future where Pakistan remains a tech powerhouse for the region.
