Alibaba founder expresses interest in Pakistan's e-commerce sector

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

Chairman Alibaba Group Jack Ma met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday and expressed his interest in investing in Pakistan's e-commerce sector, reported the state-run Pakistan Television.

"We are ready to invest for establishing an e-commerce platform in Pakistan," said Ma while meeting the premier on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Ma added that his company was closely monitoring progress of Pakistan's e-commerce sector.

Alibaba's founder said he wants to support small scale industries in developing countries and informed Nawaz that the Alibaba Group has been facilitating 60 million companies across the globe.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said it would provide opportunities for promotion of the bilateral economic ties between China and Pakistan.

During the meeting, he also invited the prime minister to visit his company headquarters in Guangzhou.

Nawaz on the occasion praised the services of Ma's group for the e-commerce sector and also invited him to visit Pakistan.

Alibaba is China’s dominant player in online commerce, with its Taobao platform estimated to hold more than 90 per cent of the consumer-to-consumer market, and its Tmall platform is believed to have over half of business-to-consumer transactions.

Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

World

Pakistan to invite PayPal, Alibaba to start e-commerce services

Alibaba Q1 revenue leaps 59pc

Alibaba Singles' Day sales pass 2015 total, but growth rate slows

Sarai Alamgir

Jan 18, 2017 08:47pm

Great job, this has never happened in the tenure of Zardari, Pakistan is being seen as a great and unexplored market. Since the security situation has improved, things are looking up.

Recommend 0

Truth

Jan 18, 2017 08:51pm

@Sarai Alamgir Its not only the security situation but also the governments policies .you have to give credit where credit is due.

Recommend 0

Hafeez, Canada

Jan 18, 2017 09:05pm

Great ...Alibaba has great opportunities in Pakistan. Combine it with CPEC. Go for it

Recommend 0

PAssion

Jan 18, 2017 09:24pm

This is the beginning. Alibaba will slowly come into Pak and capture the market and never allow other companies to flourish. Slowly all the companies will come and the local industries will be wiped out.

Recommend 0

Cpec

Jan 18, 2017 09:32pm

@PAssion I think one can earn lot by serving chinese, afterall there are lot of chinese.

Recommend 0

Lohpurush

Jan 18, 2017 09:46pm

On line retail is death nail to neighbourhood grocery store . Review Ali baba only on basis of new jobs creation.

Recommend 0

Sheikh G

Jan 18, 2017 09:58pm

@PAssion Local industry will be wiped out by having a e-commerce platform to sell or buy products to and from the world? How?. Does it mean we should not sell or buy from the world? i.e. no trade is good trade?

Recommend 0

Jan 18, 2017 10:15pm

Here comes China... Again and everywhere.

Recommend 0

Duniya Hasan

Jan 18, 2017 10:33pm

@Sarai Alamgir ....zardari era was fill with bombs and hunger!! Thanks to nawaz Sharif

Recommend 0

HAZ

Jan 18, 2017 10:36pm

Jack Ma also said "Great country,Great people, and fantastic PM"!

Recommend 0

Zakfronpak

Jan 18, 2017 10:48pm

Alibaba has become such a dominant player because it was nudge away the competition. It will sell Cheap Chinese products and finish locally manufactued products. Local industry will not be able to sustain. Govt should be careful and weigh in all the pro n cons of giving so much to China. It's business so negotiations have to be beneficial to both the parties

Recommend 0

Truth

Jan 18, 2017 10:56pm

If Alibaba comes to Pakistan, it will be a boom for e-commerce in the country. But he will either swallow completely destroy the competition, with his deep pockets. No in Pakistan has the resources to take him on.

Recommend 0

changez khan

Jan 18, 2017 11:05pm

Good days are ahead for Pakistan and China.

Recommend 0

truth prevails

Jan 18, 2017 11:07pm

He will save us from our Tajar mafia who love price hiking and sell substandard goods

Recommend 0

stranger

Jan 18, 2017 11:05pm

@PAssion How do you think a company stops other companies from doing business? I think it is either through playing on its competitive advantage (fair and beneficial) or through illegal practices like dumping or bribing or breaching intellectual property rights (as long as country's laws are functional, this cannot sustain). IMHO level playing field should be offered in Pakistan to eBay, Ali baba, and other international as well as Pakistani companies. Whoever can eat others will do. You cannot go against logic or nature.

Recommend 0

Asad

Jan 18, 2017 11:12pm

Alibaba(supplies in bulk) its sub company Aliexpress already holded a grip by sending single items to individual customers in pakistan by exploiting Pakistan post. Soon all china items shops will closed in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

MNA

Jan 18, 2017 11:31pm

Here comes the crocodiles..

Recommend 0

Zain

Jan 18, 2017 11:33pm

Jack Ma is my hero! Would love to see Alibaba invest in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, aamir Ahmad

Jan 18, 2017 11:44pm

Of course, he knows that Islamic Republic of Pakistan consists of at least 230 million brave, hardworking and intelligent people. Therefore, more the number of people, more tangible are business prospects anywhere in the world.

Recommend 0

Z-

Jan 18, 2017 11:51pm

let our own e-commerce sector mature first to compete with these giants.

Recommend 0

I2t

Jan 18, 2017 11:48pm

Alibaba finally met leader of 40 thieves. Some new output pending.

Recommend 0

just

Jan 18, 2017 11:53pm

@PAssion Let them come. It will spawn new companies.

Recommend 0

khan

Jan 19, 2017 12:33am

Straight from Chinese factories to Pakistani homes by a Chinese company. We get no manufacturing and no supply companies , only consumers. Where do the consumers get the money from? From sweat shops in the middle east?

Recommend 0

khan

Jan 19, 2017 12:30am

China is smart to not let foreign companies in until their local industry matures, to be able to be competitive. We on the other hand are doing the opposite.

Recommend 0

Arshad ,Canada

Jan 19, 2017 12:49am

@PAssion ,Never look at the bright side of this! Have some positive attitude towards Pakistani economy.

Recommend 0

Ali

Jan 19, 2017 12:52am

Chairman Alibaba Group Jack Ma's interest in investing in Pakistan is great news. Jack Ma is a multi-billionaire who has global operations. Our government has ignored software computer development industry, which could bring tens of billions in exports. Top priority should be given to this sector for immediate benefit to the country.

Recommend 0

Rebirth

Jan 19, 2017 01:18am

Buy up daraz.pk and/or OLX.

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Jan 19, 2017 01:45am

Well done Mr. Sharif.

Recommend 0

Omar

Jan 19, 2017 01:57am

Welcome to Pakistan. This Asian Lion is starting to roar. Pakistans booming middle class are hungry for more and have an insatiable appetite. The future looks brighter every day.

Recommend 0

Ajaya Dutt

Jan 19, 2017 02:06am

Wow. CPEC and now AliBaba, biggest e-commerce entity, is interested in Pakistan. Congratulations.

Recommend 0

Alba

Jan 19, 2017 02:19am

GuangZhou is my hometown in China. The Cantonese businessmen work 20 hours a day. Job development in Pakistan will be good for Alibaba's bottom line. The more discretionary income Pakistanis have to spend the higher the interest in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Alba

Jan 19, 2017 02:23am

@Sarai Alamgir .... ... Asif Zardari's leadership qualities are almost zero. He is a day dreamer not a doer. A poser, not a leader. All this plans are on paper. That is why Sharif was elected. He was the only able candidate for prime minister.

Recommend 0

Saif zulfiqar

Jan 19, 2017 02:43am

One more bad night for Indians

Recommend 0

Jin

Jan 19, 2017 02:45am

@PAssion So along the same line, I suggest you close the borders, get rid of foreign investment, and any foreign influence then you will be safe.... until someone show up with gun boat want to sell you opium that you do not want to buy... A hard lesson learned by China for close the country for a few hundreds years. Chinese closed down after Zheng He voyages. You can google for that. A few hundred years later, without exchange with outside world, China fell behind, and eventually became a backwards country. The consequence was very well known. Now if you ask any Chinese if they will ever close up, and stop exchanging ideas, and technology with the rest of world again, I guarantee you, everyone, from government official to housewife, will tell you "NO". Find your niche, you will do fine. You have very smart reasonable people, I read your progress here every day. Alibaba can fund your promising start ups, and sell your goods to more people in Asia. You can surely use that.

Recommend 0

Amir

Jan 19, 2017 02:48am

@PAssion This is not how ecommerce functions. It is a platform that serves as a gateway for local businesses to trade more easily in the internet space. This means that local businesses will no longer need a brick & mortar store to run a business. They can use the ecommerce platform and work with local suppliers and distributors to get their products to the end customers. These customers can be local, national, or international. Therefore, there will be increased competition but I strongly doubt foreign companies will come in an eliminate local businesses.

Recommend 0

Sandeep

Jan 19, 2017 03:25am

Excellent..after CPEC is completed all eCommerce orders all over the world will be fulfilled by Pakistan and shortly Alibaba and Amazon will be taken over by Pakistan. Iron Brother will be happy to hand over Alibaba to us and we will not give America a choice. Long live Pakistan China friendship.

Recommend 0

MoTh

Jan 19, 2017 04:33am

Give Jack Ma tax incetives for building one or two skyscraper iconic buildings in Karachi or Lahore. This group has great potential and could create hundreds of jobs in Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sherif had this kind of meeting with Google owner, Mucrosoft Owner, Tesla Electric Car owner and so on. Even bringing Indian companies in Pakistan not a bad idea. It is all about creating jobs in Pakistan. Absorb your youth in high paying jobs.

Recommend 0

Abbas

Jan 19, 2017 05:14am

@SARAI ALAMGIR well this has nothing to do with the government. It is only because of more Pakistanis are now doing online shopping, while there is no support from government in terms of building an infrastructure for online transactions and shipping.

Recommend 0

Chirag Patel

Jan 19, 2017 05:19am

why only chinese ckmpanies and US or Indian companies which are much better at profit sharing as compared to the Chinese companies

Recommend 0

Mohajir

Jan 19, 2017 05:39am

Here comes more Chinese ..... Alibaba will sell directly from Chinese factories to Pakistani households so Pakistani industries and factories will go for a toss.

Recommend 0

Justice

Jan 19, 2017 06:14am

Alibaba E commerce will be good in Pakistan. Is Nawaz Sharif willing to assure Pakistani that he will not do corruption anymore and will return looted money to Pakistan?

Recommend 0

AXH

Jan 19, 2017 06:46am

It is great to invite foreign investment. However, it is in the best interest of Pakistan that the local industry be protected and fair opportunities must be provided for a healthy competition.

Recommend 0

Sen

Jan 19, 2017 07:37am

Are there any domestic e commerce retailers

Recommend 0

Vinit

Jan 19, 2017 07:42am

It will be positive development

Recommend 0

Pakistani first

Jan 19, 2017 08:22am

Leave some opportunities for Pakistanis also. Educated Pakistanis must lead the growth of the country, not foreign nationals or foreign companies. Don't give every opportunity to Chinese venture. Alibaba is a flop venture in our neighboring country.

Recommend 0

Bulle singh

Jan 19, 2017 08:19am

"60 million companies"?! Let us use some logic here for a change: > There are approximately 46,000 listed companies in the world > Lets say unlisted companies is 1,000 times this number (remember that there are only 196 countries in the world) -- then the number of unlisted companies would be 4.6 million unlisted companies >> Total number of companies in the world would be around 5 million >> For argument sake, let us double this number: 10 million companies in the world So how could ali baba be supporting 60 million companies?! I understand pakistan always praising and propping China -- but 60 million companies being supported by a single chinese company?! :)

Recommend 0

warning!

Jan 19, 2017 08:26am

Tale of - Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. They like corrupts.

Recommend 0

Ahmad

Jan 19, 2017 08:22am

@Saif zulfiqar India has own e-commerce sites they don't need others to open it. Pakistan can easily have own e-commerce sites like Daraz.pk

Recommend 0

Bulle singh

Jan 19, 2017 08:27am

"60 million companies"?! Let us use some logic here: > There are approximately 46,000 listed companies in the world > Lets say unlisted companies is 2,000 times this number (remember that there are only 196 countries in the world) -- then the number of unlisted companies would be 9.2 million unlisted companies >> Total number of companies in the world would be around 10 million >> For argument sake, let us multiply this number by 5 times: 50 million companies in the world at absolute most So how could ali baba be supporting 60 million companies?! -- is ali baba supporting every company in the world + another imaginary 10 million companies?! I have a company that is successful in the e-commerce world, and I can surely say that we do not do any business with ali baba!

Recommend 0

Love PAK Police

Jan 19, 2017 08:32am

Yes sites like darraz etc are jokes infront of Amazon and Flipkart

Recommend 0

Police

Jan 19, 2017 08:30am

Are 40 thieves waiting for bribe?

Recommend 0

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Jan 19, 2017 08:39am

Alibaba will bring all poor quality Chinese Baba all over Pakistan closing local businesses.

Recommend 0

Sameer

Jan 19, 2017 08:45am

@Saif zulfiqar They are already in India but a failed venture.

Recommend 0

asif ali

Jan 19, 2017 09:09am

There are too many Alibabas already in our country, why need another?

Recommend 0

Forewarned

Jan 19, 2017 09:19am

@Z- " let our own e-commerce sector mature first to compete with these giants." Absolutely necessary for own development. Don't invite outsiders in the sectors where there is no need at all.Encourage start up ventures by providing capital and credit ..

Recommend 0

Ansari91

Jan 19, 2017 09:57am

Capitalist thought would destroy the already destroyed social community in Pakistan

Recommend 0

south Asia

Jan 19, 2017 10:49am

@Saif zulfiqar They are in India, and they are struggling to survive in India's superior and competitive market. They are also making huge investments in India in 2017, but I doubt they will get anywhere near Amazon Flipkart EBAY..I would be surprised if they even manage to touch snapdeals or shopclues.

Recommend 0

kumar

Jan 19, 2017 11:50am

Improve overall situation in Pakistan and support youth, they will start Pakistan's version of AliBaba.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.