Careem to Halt Ride-Hailing Services in Pakistan After 9 Years, Shifts Focus to “Everything App”
Careem, the Middle East’s leading ride-hailing service, will suspend operations in Pakistan starting July 18, 2025, marking the end of its nearly decade-long journey in the country. CEO Mudassir Sheikha announced the decision in an emotional LinkedIn post, citing economic challenges, fierce competition, and global investment constraints as key reasons. Despite the shutdown, Careem will maintain its presence through Careem Technologies, focusing on its “Everything App”—a super app for food delivery, payments, and other services—developed by its 400-strong Pakistan-based tech team.
From Rides to Tech Hub: Careem Suspends Operations in Pakistan but Keeps Innovation Alive
Sheikha reflected on Careem’s legacy in Pakistan, where it revolutionized digital mobility, women’s safety in transport, and cashless payments. The company also created thousands of jobs for drivers (“captains”) and laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s digital economy. However, financial sustainability concerns forced the difficult exit. This follows Uber’s departure in April 2024, which had redirected users to Careem—now leaving Pakistan without its last major international ride-hailing player.
Also read: ‘Faysal Khud Mukhtar’ Equips Underserved Karachi Women with Career-Ready Skills
Transition Timeline
| Service | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ride-Hailing (Careem Rides) | October 2015 | July 18, 2025 |
| Customer Support (Careem Care) | Active | September 18, 2025 |
| Careem Wallet Refunds | till 18th September 2025 | TBD |
While ride-hailing winds down, Careem’s Karachi and Lahore tech hubs will expand, hiring 100+ new employees and scaling its Falcon/NextGen graduate program. Sheikha emphasized Pakistan’s role in Careem’s DNA, calling it a “rich source of innovation” where the company’s first code was written.
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