On February 18, 2026, significant developments in Pakistan's digital economy were highlighted, particularly with the announcement of the Pakistan Startup Fund receiving its first 10 applications, marking a critical step in the government's initiative to bolster the startup ecosystem. The Ministry of IT & Telecommunication reported that the total project cost for the fund is Rs. 3 billion, with only Rs. 132.84 million spent so far, indicating a physical progress of 24% and a financial progress of 5%. An Advisory Committee has been established to oversee the fund, which aims to provide equity-free grants to early-stage startups, with the government committing to allocate up to Rs. 2 billion annually. As stated in ProPakistani, "The initiative aims to strengthen linkages between startups and investors at both local and international levels."