E-Sports has gained a lot of attention worldwide in the last few years, and Pakistan is also on the upswing. In recent months, Pakistan has made the next significant step forward in its esports environment, along with the announcement by information minister Fawad Chaudhry about Garena’s Free Fire Premier League to be hosted at the national level for the first time under the initiative named E-PAK.
The government’s new program will provide young Pakistani athletes a chance to demonstrate their potential and improve their talents to become professional players and compete worldwide. Aside from these efforts, the government will collaborate with local esports companies to recruit young gamers.
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E-Sports scenes in Pakistan at present
There are two major esports movements in Pakistan right now: mobile and PC gaming. Mobile gaming is the first and fastest-growing kind of gaming, while console and PC gaming may be second. More than six out of every ten people in Pakistan are under the age of 30 years old. Pakistan has one of the world’s highest populations of people under the age of 30. More than half of the population is interested in gaming or gaming news in Pakistan, which means that esports has a massive fan base.
Korea, Japan, and India have become more developed esports markets, and South Asia will soon be the center of such activity due to the ever-increasing expansion in all areas of the esports ecosystem.
Influence of COVID on Pakistan E-Sports
Due to the epidemic, many companies have failed, and more individuals have been isolated to their homes. With fewer places to work and more time to socialize, online gaming tournaments have helped spread competitive gaming, but they’ve also lowered the number of LAN gatherings held around the globe.
Online gaming, on the other hand, appears to be on the rise. The esports environment will be flooded in Pakistan soon with events, predominantly online, and the country’s next talent is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to shine.
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Present issues in Pakistan E-Sports
The E-sports industry has not been explored on a government level, but soon we will be having government support and involvement in the esports ecosystem in Pakistan. Almost none of the dedicated advertising agencies and brands have been paying attention to the available opportunities in esports for a long time. Only a few renowned brands are sponsoring and recognizing the e-sports tournaments in Pakistan.
Still, luckily, the current situation is showing promise as Pakistan is coming into the limelight after international wins, and mainstream games are investing in competitions, marketing, and advertising campaigns that have attracted the current audience and investors.
An overview of funding in Pakistan E-Sports
Local individuals make the majority of funding in organizations and teams. Few esports international event management groups have secured local sponsorships. While direct exposure to the esports subject is restricted, investors and brands can focus on nations or firms that make considerable money from video games and e-sports.
The lack of assistance from the government is the biggest obstacle. The second major problem is to get consistent advertising funds from our clients. With that said, it is an enormous market that has yet to be exploited to its full potential by famous companies and marketing firms.
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Where do we see E-Sports in Pakistan in the next few years?
In my opinion, players like Arslan Ash, Sumail Hassan, and others have heavily influenced the gaming youth in Pakistan by outshining themselves worldwide. Their success has indeed brought so many optimistic hopes for Pakistan’s E-Sports scene.
Several major worldwide businesses have stepped up their esports investments in light of Pakistan’s substantial esports fan base. It appears that esports will continue to rise in popularity for years to come. The future of E-Sports in Pakistan is undoubtedly bright.
The writer is an E-Sports & Sports Blogger, Social Media Influencer & Freelance Journalist from Pakistan. He can be reached at @OsamaQ96 on Twitter. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.