Every generation has its unique set of hustles and hobbies. Take Generation Z for example, they are growing up in the digital world and it’s hard for them to live without their devices.
Also, this generation loves exploring digital platforms, be it Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, and gaming platforms.
So, if you’re thinking you can raise Generation Z without technology, then it’s impossible especially when the sports industry in Pakistan is adopting the digital medium.
Esports is a billion-dollar industry at an international level. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, it’s still in an initial phase. But when you ask the gamers about their interest in electronic sports, they would burst with excitement and become keen to participate in the competition. Esports Pakistan is created with the initiative to provide opportunities to the emerging gamers of the country.
What is Esports?
As you play conventional sports like cricket, tennis, golf and schedule tournaments at a national and international level, Esports also do the same but through the digital medium. Individuals and teams take part in the competitions and battle in games like League of Legends, Proleague, Battlezone season, and more.
Esports hailed in 1972 at Stanford University when an online game Space Invaders Championship yielded 10,000 participants. From there onwards, it became popular all around the world.
Now, there’s more money in esports than even the Hollywood industry if one realizes its potential.
What are the games available in ESports?
- Fighting Games
- First-person Shooters
- Sports game
- Racing
- Battle Arena
- War Thunder
- Real-Time Strategy
The list goes on but the popular ones are legend, Fortnite, Dota 2, Free Fire, PUBG, and Overwatch.
The Role Models in ESports Pakistan
Sumail Hassan, Yawar Hassan, and Arsalan Ash are the three most prominent figures in the esports industry.
Sumail has earned a total of $3,591,225.34 from the 60 tournaments he played. While his brother Yawar has earned $377,026.60 from a total of 28 tournaments.
Arslan Siddiqui also known as Arslan Ash won approx $33,715 in two years from the games Tekken Tage Tournament and King of Fighters. He has achieved several accomplishments under his belt for his passion for e-gaming.
ESports in Pakistan
There are only a few organizations that are working to grow Esports in Pakistan. For example, Pepsi hosted its first Esports tournament in Pakistan for a winning prize of Rs 1 million. GameBirdPK is also a great platform for esports who work to bring forth the gamers in Pakistan. They host events, tournaments, and lead their way to up the gaming skills.
Esports Pakistan, an e-gaming platform consistently contributes to add to the esports industry of the country.
With these few platforms, there’s still a lag in the online gaming industry in Pakistan as compared to the world.
Pakistan Consulate General organized a webinar from Hong Kong on #ESports and #VGaming to promote Pakistan’s #EGaming industry world-wide. Webinar was attended by the ambassador of Pakistan to #China H.E Mr. Moin-Ul-Haque & Federal Secretary @MoitOfficial Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui. pic.twitter.com/6G9GZF1qCP
— Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) January 6, 2021
When Pakistan’s first esports competition is happening?
When it comes to the technology movement in Pakistan, Waqar Zaka is always active in this campaign. He’s one of the influencers who know the scope of the Digital revolution and works to grow its game in Pakistan.
Here also he takes the lead by inviting the Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry to his show where he announced the esports competition at a global level. The event will be held in March 2021 in Islamabad.
You can watch the interview here: Waqar Zaka Interview with Fawad Chaudhry
He added:
“Online gaming is a billion-dollar industry and Pakistan has 20% annual growth in it. If we recognize the talent and choose them for international tours we can lift the online gaming industry in Pakistan.”
Career in ESports
If even we don’t see esports from the gamer’s point of view, there’s a steady rise of careers in this field. If electronic sports start getting the limelight then there would also be a need for graphic designers, video animators, gaming software, marketers, managers, leaders, strategy developers, game designers, and developers to add to the progress of this industry.
So, if we see in the scope of the career, it will open great employment opportunities as well especially for freelancers.
Future of ESports in Pakistan
It’s quite early to predict the scope of esports in Pakistan because recently PUBG was banned in Pakistan which put the gamers in a state of distress.
Secondly, Pakistani households don’t take this profession seriously. We need to educate people about the golden opportunities and revenue of this niche. The universities also don’t train students to increase their gamification skills which has created a huge skill gap between the local and global players.
And last, our government needs to support more especially to upgrade the internet services in Pakistan.
The growth in the gaming industry will add to Pakistan’s economy and will also build a reputation for us.
I prefer books and diaries more than phones and Facebook. Soulfully connected to Pakistan. And I passionately believe that I can change the world through blogging.
@momal tahir its good that you prefer, but u cant say to others that they should prefer what u do we’re living in 21st Century and everything is internet based so let the youth go with the flow a bit.. the rest of the world has moved so far let them catch the pace our education system is ………. put and disgusting word u can in this blank thanks .
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We, the gamers of Pakistan have a fantastic talent of esports, but the thing is this there aren’t that much opportunities in Pakistan to join the esports, So because of this gamers are aren’t able to join the esports or make it as their profession. Government of Pakistan should give esports opportunities in all of the Pakistan. It’ll be the best opportunity for gamers to go in the profession, and also it’ll increase the opportunities for software engineers to take in a career in esports. So, The government of Pakistan should focus on esports also, and make it possible for gamers and software engineers to take it as a profession. We’ll be thankful to the government of Pakistan.
Yes, I also wish the same 🙂