The rise of Extended Reality (XR)—encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—is a significant trend in the Pakistani IT industry, with a clear pivot toward practical, ROI-driven applications, especially for corporate needs.
1. The Core Focus: Safety, Training, and ROI
The major driver for XR adoption is the measurable Return on Investment (ROI) it delivers, primarily in high-cost, high-risk scenarios.
- Safety and EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) Training: Pakistani developers are increasingly creating XR-based solutions for safety compliance, particularly for international export. VR allows for immersive, risk-free simulations of high-hazard environments (like chemical spills, confined-space rescues, or complex machinery operation).
- The Value Proposition: Studies show that VR training can lead to a 52% improvement in speed to competence and can increase knowledge retention by up to 80% compared to traditional methods. This translates to reduced accidents, lower liability, and less operational downtime.
- Skill Development and Upskilling: XR is being used to rapidly train new hires and upskill existing employees in complex technical areas. This is vital in Pakistan where there is a strong focus on building highly skilled tech human capital.
Examples: Virtual workshops for technical vocational skills, AR applications in healthcare training, and VR immersive learning for advanced IT skills.
2. Practical Applications on the Rise
- Remote Collaboration and Troubleshooting (AR): Augmented Reality is being used to overlay digital information onto the real world.
For Industrial Automation and Maintenance, a remote expert can see what a technician in the field is seeing through AR glasses or a smartphone camera, guiding them step-by-step through a repair using real-time visual annotations. This drastically reduces the need for expensive travel and speeds up resolution time. - Virtual Design and Prototyping (VR/MR): In sectors like architecture, engineering, and manufacturing, VR allows teams (especially remote ones) to review and iterate on 3D models and designs at a 1:1 scale. This catches costly errors before construction or production begins, significantly accelerating time-to-market.
- Onboarding and Soft Skills: VR platforms are being used to create realistic simulations for soft skills like customer service, public speaking, and negotiation, allowing employees to practice in a high-fidelity, low-stakes virtual environment
3. Pakistan's Competitive Edge in XR Development
Pakistan’s burgeoning software sector is well-positioned to become an export hub for XR solutions, particularly for EHS and industrial training.
Developer Talent: There is a growing pool of VR/AR developers who are proficient in platforms like Unity and Unreal Engine, with many specializing in creating immersive, AI-enhanced training solutions for global clients.
Institutional Support: The launch of initiatives like the Spatial AI Center and collaborations to offer thousands of tailored VR/AR courses (as seen with EON Reality) signal a strong institutional commitment to integrating this technology into education and vocational training.
The trend for 2026 and beyond is clear: XR will transition from a novelty to a fundamental enterprise tool, with investment decisions increasingly tied to quantifiable metrics on time savings, safety improvements, and cost reduction.
