ARY set to acquire Nukta after investor exit

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 February 2026 |  JP Staff Report

ARY Group is set to acquire Nukta, the Dubai-headquartered digital news platform founded by Kamran Khan, after backer Malik Riaz scaled back funding amid legal troubles. The deal follows layoffs and would reshape Pakistan's digital news sector.

Summary

KARACHI — The ARY Group is close to acquiring Nukta, the Dubai-headquartered digital news platform launched by senior journalist Kamran Khan and initially financed by property developer Malik Riaz, according to senior officials at both organizations who confirmed to Profit that the deal is “almost final” pending a few details.

If completed, the transaction would mark a significant shift in Pakistan’s digital media landscape and effectively end Malik Riaz’s latest attempt to establish a lasting footprint in the country’s news industry.

Funding withdrawal and layoffs

Nukta was launched in November 2024 from Dubai with an expansive newsroom model that recruited senior journalists and media professionals from across Pakistan. The platform positioned itself as a digital-first news outlet built on YouTube revenue, online advertising, and event-based income, without a subscription model.

However, following the withdrawal of financial backing from Malik Riaz, Nukta began downsizing. In November 2025, the company announced it was laying off 37 employees, primarily reporters and cameramen, citing budgetary constraints. Subsequent rounds of layoffs followed, according to reporting by Profit. Employees have faced growing uncertainty over job security in recent months.

Malik Riaz, chairman of Bahria Town, had reportedly scaled back funding after encountering legal and financial difficulties in Pakistan, including state action involving his assets and substantial penalties. His earlier efforts to acquire or launch media ventures, including talks in 2023 to purchase the Express Media Group, which did not receive regulatory clearance, did not materialize into lasting ownership.

Digital ambitions meet legacy infrastructure

Initial reports indicate that the proposed deal may include Kamran Khan receiving a prime-time television program on ARY. Khan previously hosted prominent shows on Geo News and Dunya News before launching Nukta as a digital-only platform.

For ARY, acquiring Nukta would add an established digital newsroom to its portfolio, which already includes television, entertainment, and digital operations. ARY operates one of Pakistan’s largest private broadcast networks with a substantial presence on YouTube and social media platforms.

Nukta built a sizable digital footprint within its first year, producing thousands of videos and attracting over 168,000 YouTube subscribers. However, its aggressive hiring strategy, reportedly offering journalists salaries significantly higher than their previous pay, contributed to high operational costs, particularly with headquarters and operations split between Dubai and Pakistan.

It remains unclear whether ARY would retain Nukta as a standalone brand, integrate it into its existing digital structure, or scale down operations. Media analysts note that ARY’s established production facilities, advertising relationships, and cost controls could significantly reduce overhead compared to Nukta’s startup model.

Industry implications and ownership patterns

The reported acquisition reflects a broader pattern in Pakistan’s media industry where financially stressed startups often gravitate toward established broadcast groups with stronger revenue streams and distribution networks.

It also underscores recurring interest from business magnates in acquiring media platforms. While digital outlets offer lower regulatory barriers compared to broadcast licenses, sustaining large editorial teams without diversified revenue has proven challenging in Pakistan’s advertising-constrained market.

For ARY, the strategic value may lie in talent acquisition, digital brand consolidation, and expanding cross-platform programming. For Nukta’s newsroom, the outcome could determine whether the platform evolves into a leaner digital vertical or is absorbed into a legacy television-centered model.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The potential acquisition highlights the fragility of venture-backed digital newsrooms in Pakistan’s advertising-dependent media economy. For journalists, it underscores the risks of high-salary startup models without long-term revenue guarantees. Media organizations may also see this as a case study in how legacy broadcasters can consolidate digital competitors during financial stress.

ATTRIBUTION: This report is based on publicly documented reporting by Profit and statements from senior officials at ARY and Nukta as cited in that publication.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.