Pakistan developing first-ever e-sports policy, says Rana Mashhood

New policy will also support game developers, digital innovators

Pakistan is moving to formalise its digital gaming sector, with the government announcing its first-ever national e-sports policy and the establishment of a dedicated e-sports federation. The announcement was made by Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, during a ceremony in Islamabad on October 21, 2025.

According to a press release, he said that around 60 million Pakistanis are directly or indirectly involved in e-Sports, and the new policy will also support game developers and digital innovators.

Mashhood said the government, under PM Shehbaz Sharif's guidance, is taking “concrete steps to create opportunities for youth” in this regard.

Pakistani-based e-sports competitors are recognised globally for their achievements on international stages. For example, Arslan "Arslan Ash" Siddique is a seven-time Tekken champion at the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) - the "world's biggest fighting event" held at Las Vegas - and he won his sixth title this August at the EVO 2025 Championship in Las Vegas, beating out another Pakistani competitor, Atif Butt, in the final.

However, details regarding draft timeline, funding mechanisms, regulatory oversight, and how the federation will operate aren’t yet completely defined. The proof will be in how the implementation follows this announcement.