Pakistan is moving forward with plans to introduce its first National Esports Policy, an initiative aimed at formally recognising esports as an economic sector and fostering youth participation, digital skills training, and innovation-led employment.

According to an official statement from the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) hosted a high-level meeting in Islamabad including the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the British Esports Federation to advance the initiative. The session was chaired by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and co-chaired by PMYP Chairman Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan.

According to local publication ARY News, Minister Khawaja highlighted Pakistan’s emerging presence in the global gaming industry, noting that local developers have released titles with international companies including SEGA and Nintendo. She outlined a three-pronged strategy to support the sector: integrating game technology coursework and training, launching funding initiatives to generate employment, and helping to commercialise locally developed games.

Rana Mashood described the move as a strategic opportunity to connect Pakistan’s youth with a high-growth sector. The meeting concluded with a commitment to align the policy with global best practices and explore the formation of a Pakistan Esports Federation.

British Esports’ Tom Dore remarked on Pakistan’s potential, citing its population of around 170 million under the age of 30 as a key strength. “It has been an honour and a privilege to visit your country and listen, learn and understand your exciting plans to use esports, video games and games design as a pillar of your wider digital transformation plan,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

The policy development coincides with a strong competitive moment for Pakistan on the global stage. Domestic talent is making its mark internationally, with Team 4Thrives Esports securing a place in the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) PUBG Mobile Grand Finals and Tekken players such as Arslan Ash compete at EVO before also heading for the EWC.