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Cairo-based transport-tech startup Swvl has hit yet another milestone by launching operations in Pakistan. With this, the South Asian country has become the company’s third market after Egypt and Kenya. 

Swvl confirmed earlier in the week that its Pakistani unit will be initially available in Lahore only. However, the company plans on soon expanding to other major cities as well. 

Worth noting here is that the rumors of Swvl’s then-purported plans to launch in Pakistan was doing circles for several weeks now.

Swvl was founded in 2017 as an app-based private premium alternative to public transportation. The company’s web-based platform enables commuters to book seats on its sizeable fleet of luxury buses. Just like other ride-hailing platforms such as Careem and Uber, Swvl relies on third parties to own and operate the buses in its fleet.

These buses operate along fixed routes with designated pick-up spots for commuters. Swvl is yet to reveal the routes and other key specifics of its newly launched Lahore unit. 

Swvl will have to compete against the likes of Airlift, a Pakistani startup launched last year, to gain traction in the local market. Meanwhile, Careem, which is already up against Swvl in the latter’s hometurf, is reportedly also planning on expanding to Pakistan.