KARACHI: Riding the strong digital wave, Pakistani players are gearing up to enhance the country’s participation in the $200 billion global esports industry, local stakeholders say.
With an aggressive growth globally, esports has evolved into a huge industry, with participants earning millions of dollars through various online events and tournaments. Some of the famous egames include Counter-Strike 1.6 and its versions, League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), Defense of the Ancient (DOTA) and Hearthstone – Heroes of Warcraft.
The size of the global games market was estimated at $175.88 billion in 2021 that is forecasted to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7 percent to reach $218.7 billion in 2024, passing the coveted $200 billion threshold in 2023, according to the 2021 global games market report issued by Newzoo, a Netherlands-based firm that provides games market insights and analytics.
In Pakistan, revenue generation through video game segment is projected to hit $208.70 million mark in 2022, according to Statista, a US-based statistical data provider. It is expected to show a growth of 2.17 percent, resulting in a projected market volume of $227.40 million by 2026.
“Pakistan is a huge market for esports and the 11th largest market for esports earnings in the world,” Moazzam Kamran, business transformation director at REDtone Digital Services that offers esports services through GameRED, told Arab News in an interview on Saturday.
“Pakistani players are making it to the top in the world of esports like Tekken 7 World champion Arslan Ash (Arslan Siddiquie) and many other players. Our purpose is to uplift the domestic talent at the global level through multiple grassroot-level tournaments with the support of Pakistan’s strong digital landscape.”
With around 65 percent young population, 116 million broadband and 113 million 3G/4G subscribers, Pakistan offers a huge market for online gaming.
“We see investment coming in many startups in Pakistan. We have a good mix of young audience as 65-70 percent of our population is youth under the age of 35 and that is a huge market for esports that needs to be tapped,” Kamran said.
Esports in Pakistan is developing a complete ecosystem that offers employment opportunities to Pakistan’s tech-savvy young generation.
“ESports is a complete ecosystem and it is an aggressively growing industry with players, graphic developers and gaming asset producers at software houses, and caster or commentators comprising both girls and boys,” Kamran said. “It has now evolved to organize multimillion dollar tournaments in Pakistan and is providing opportunities to young players to earn in millions of rupees.”
Pakistan esports stakeholders say with increasing penetration of mobile Internet, the number of esports players and participants would multiply in Pakistan.
“Esports in Pakistan is aggressively growing in the backdrop of Digital Pakistan initiative. We have public and private sector support to promote egaming in Pakistan,” Kamran said further. “We expect that those who play casual sports will gradually come to the professional esports.”
Launched by the former Imran Khan government in 2018, the Digital Pakistan initiative aims to promote connectivity, improve digital infrastructure, increase investment in digital skills, promote innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship.
To a question about the implications of video gaming, including the violent content, the REDtone chief said only “through responsible play” negative impacts of egaming could be avoided.
In Pakistan, the number of users in the video games segment is expected to increase to 50.9 million by 2026, while the user penetration will be 16 percent in 2022 and is expected to hit 20.6 percent by 2026, according to Statista and Newzoo.
Internationally, the number of players will pass the 3-billion mark in 2022 and continue to grow at 5.6 percent to 3.3 billion by 2024.
Pakistan gearing up to increase penetration in multibillion global esports industry — stakeholders
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Pakistan gearing up to increase penetration in multibillion global esports industry — stakeholders
- Pakistan is 11th largest market in terms of esports earnings due to increased digitalization and Internet penetration
- Industry is developing a complete ecosystem that offers employment opportunities to tech-savvy youth, expert says
Saudi, Pakistani officials discuss avenues for enhanced strategic cooperation
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership in political, security and economic domains
- Last year, both nations signed a landmark defense pact formalizing military ties into binding security commitment
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Saudi officials have held discussions on avenues for enhanced strategic cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said on Friday.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership in political, security and economic domains, underpinned by deep religious and cultural ties. The two countries maintain high-level engagements and consultations on regional and global developments, often aligning on issues related to peace, stability and the Muslim world.
In September last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark defense pact, under which aggression against one country will be treated as an attack against both. The pact signaled a push by both governments to formalize long-standing military ties into a binding security commitment.
On Friday, Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki met with Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik in Islamabad, according to a PID statement.
“During the meeting, both sides held comprehensive discussions on avenues for enhanced mutual and strategic cooperation,” the statement said.
Malik highlighted Pakistan’s priorities in climate resilience and sustainable development, and emphasized the importance of international partnerships in addressing global environmental challenges, according to the PID. He appreciated Saudi Arabia’s continued support and engagement with Pakistan across multiple sectors.
“The Saudi ambassador reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation,” it said. “Both sides reiterated the deep-rooted, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and expressed confidence that the longstanding partnership would continue to grow.”
