Tech start up SWVL aims to invest $25 million in Pakistan this year

This is the first mass transit startup to launch in all three metropolitan cities: Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.
Published November 8, 2019

One of Pakistan's newest, most celebrated tech startup, SWVL, has recently announced to invest a whopping $25 million in Pakistan. The company offers a bus hailing, app-based service providing users comfortable, reliable and affordable transportation service.

Such influx of investment will prove to be a beneficial opportunity for Pakistani startups that are already finding it cumbersome to look for investors for their entrepreneurial venture.

SWVL aims to become a silver lining on the otherwise gloomy startup ecosystem.

With an aim to revolutionise public transportation in the country, SWVL also believes in supporting startups and revolutionising Pakistani startup ecosystem.

With the influx of job creation and aid in citizen's mobility, SWVL, albeit being a foreign startup, feels pretty much closer to home.

“We have plans of mobilising half a million Pakistanis by 2023 and creating 10K jobs a year. We are also planning to start an incubator to fund pre-seed startups to kickstart a healthy tech ecosystem in Pakistan. Moreover, the company plans to open an offshore support and engineering office in Pakistan.” says SWVL founder Mr Mostafa Khandil.

SWVL makes commute safer and more convenient by running buses on fixed routes that users can book their seats in with the aid of an app.

The bus hailing service aims to enable women to reclaim public spaces, mobilise people and do its part to help Pakistan move forward.

Being a global mobility leader in mass transit, SWVL was launched in Nairobi over six months ago and recently launched its operations in Lahore in July this year.

It is the first start up in the mass transit ecosystem to launch in all three metropolitan cities: Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

Here's a look at how it works:

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