Apple has taken a concrete step toward establishing a formal presence in Pakistan by appointing Salman Dar as its head of government affairs for the country, a move that signals the tech giant’s growing interest in the Pakistani market.
Who Was Appointed
The appointment was announced via LinkedIn. Dar brings more than 30 years of experience in information technology, entrepreneurship and business development, having worked across Europe, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East over the course of his career.
In his new position, Dar will lead Apple’s government affairs activities in Pakistan and support the company’s engagement with regulatory authorities, policymakers and other stakeholders, a role typically created by multinational companies as they prepare for formal market entry or expanded local operations.
What This Signals for Apple’s Pakistan Plans
The appointment comes as Pakistan’s government has been actively courting Apple, with the Prime Minister reportedly expected to meet Apple’s CEO during an upcoming visit to the United States. Currently, 37 companies manufacture mobile phones locally in Pakistan, yet Apple remains conspicuously absent from local production despite being one of the world’s largest smartphone makers.
A dedicated government affairs position suggests Apple is preparing to navigate Pakistan’s regulatory landscape and address the investment barriers that have historically kept it from entering the local market, whether through local assembly, official retail presence, or both.
If Apple does move forward with a formal Pakistan entry, it would mark a significant shift in the country’s smartphone manufacturing and retail landscape, potentially bringing official warranty support, authorized retail channels, and possibly local assembly operations that have so far been absent. For now, the government affairs appointment is an early but meaningful signal that Apple sees enough opportunity in Pakistan to invest in dedicated regulatory engagement.
For more on related developments, see our coverage of Honor’s upcoming Magic9 series and the newly launched Honor T10.