South Asia Semiconductor Initiates Breakthrough Collaboration to Bring Silicon Wafers to Pakistan via Daraz.pk
Islamabad, Pakistan — South Asia Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd. (SAS), founded by visionary technologist Toor Khan, has taken a major step toward enabling domestic semiconductor innovation in Pakistan.
In a strategic move aimed at solving one of the most overlooked bottlenecks in local hardware development, SAS has initiated discussions with multiple Chinese silicon wafer manufacturers to establish direct retail access through Daraz.pk, Pakistan’s largest e-commerce platform (a subsidiary of Alibaba Group).
This initiative, once operational, will reduce wafer procurement costs by over 90%, allowing researchers, startups, and universities to order wafers locally with shipping charges as low as USD $2, instead of the USD $40–$80 typically incurred through traditional international logistics and courier services.
Solving a Silent Blocker in Pakistan’s Hardware Ecosystem
Despite increasing interest in chip design, power electronics, photovoltaics, and MEMS development within Pakistan’s academic and startup communities, one foundational problem has persisted:
There is no affordable, accessible route to purchase silicon wafers or substrates locally.
Every attempt to source wafers — even for basic research or prototyping — forces engineers to negotiate with foreign vendors, pay high courier fees, deal with customs delays, or meet high minimum order requirements. This makes even simple experimentation prohibitively expensive.
SAS is changing that.
Two Manufacturers Already Show Willingness to Join the Initiative
Following SAS’s outreach, two established Chinese wafer manufacturers have already expressed willingness to explore onboarding onto Daraz.pk’s platform:
- Leze Laser Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.
- Chengdu Paralight Optics Co. Ltd.
If even one of these suppliers successfully lists wafer products on Daraz.pk — even in low quantities or R&D-grade broken/partial wafers — it would create Pakistan’s first-ever local semiconductor material supply channel.
Why Daraz.pk is the Ideal Entry Point
Instead of setting up warehouses or formal distribution networks, SAS is advocating a lean and highly scalable alternative:
Chinese wafer suppliers can simply list their products on Daraz.pk’s Global/Cross-Border Seller Program — just like other electronics sellers.
Because Daraz already consolidates bulk logistics from China into Pakistan, shipping costs are automatically minimized through internal aggregation — a crucial advantage for lightweight, flat items like wafers, which can be safely packed in simple plastic enclosures rather than expensive wafer carriers.
A National Milestone — and a Call to Collaborators
South Asia Semiconductor views this initiative as a foundational building block toward a complete semiconductor supply chain in Pakistan.
Once wafers are accessible, the next steps — lithography, doping, cleaning, deposition, packaging — all become experimentable at grassroots and institutional levels.
SAS invites:
- More Chinese wafer, substrate, and materials suppliers to consider registering on Daraz.pk
- Pakistani universities and research labs to prepare for affordable prototyping
- Policy stakeholders to recognize the importance of material accessibility in deep-tech development
About South Asia Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd. (SAS)
SAS is a Pakistan-based semiconductor initiative working toward establishing indigenous chip design, fabrication, and R&D capabilities across South Asia. Founded by Toor Khan, SAS focuses on practical access, localized supply chains, and democratization of hardware innovation.
This development marks a turning point — not just for SAS, but for Pakistan’s entry into real semiconductor manufacturing groundwork.
The era of “We cannot build chips because we cannot get wafers” is nearing its end.
The door is opening.
