The ARY Group has acquired Nukta, the digital media platform launched by Kamran Khan and backed by property tycoon Malik Riaz. Sources within ARY told TechJuice that the deal has closed, but significant changes are expected as the platform is integrated into ARY’s operations. Nukta staff, who were among the highest-paid journalists in Pakistan, are now bracing for major layoffs and restructuring.
Nukta launched in November 2024 with headquarters in Dubai, promising to reinvent digital journalism in Pakistan. With senior journalist Kamran Khan at the helm, the platform quickly built a large team of journalists and corporate professionals, hiring aggressively from top media houses and offering salaries far above industry norms. Its business model relied on online advertising, YouTube revenue, and digital consultancy services.
Malik Riaz’s Financial Constraints
Nukta was originally bankrolled by Malik Riaz, who had long sought to own a media organization in Pakistan. However, his financial position weakened as several of his properties were seized and auctioned, leaving him unable to continue funding the platform. Sources say that Riaz’s withdrawal forced Kamran Khan and his family to run the operation independently for months.
Transferring Nukta to ARY was a practical solution for both parties. For Malik Riaz, the move ensured that the platform could continue operating without further personal financial burden. For ARY, it meant acquiring a ready-made digital operation with an experienced team and established infrastructure, giving the group a stronger foothold in Pakistan’s growing online media market.
Previous Layoffs Highlight Nukta’s Challenges
Less than a year after its launch, Nukta had already experienced turbulence. In November 2025, the company cut 37 positions, mostly reporters and cameramen, citing “strategic restructuring for long-term sustainability.” Sources described it more bluntly as a necessary measure after the high salaries and large team strained the platform’s finances. Only a handful of affected staff were later absorbed into government-run media initiatives, leaving most former employees in limbo.
This history underscores the challenge ARY faces in integrating Nukta: the platform was built on ambitious spending and aggressive hiring, but the cost of sustaining such a team without steady revenue proved too high.
What Lies Ahead for Nukta Staff
Nukta’s strategy of offering significantly higher salaries than the market norm was ambitious but came at a cost. A senior ARY Group official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to TechJuice, confirmed that Nukta staff were among the highest-paid in Pakistan’s media industry. The official added that major layoffs are expected as the platform is integrated into ARY’s structured operations.
Employees who joined Nukta for premium pay are now bracing for changes, with salary realignments and staff reductions likely in the coming weeks. Experts note that such restructuring is common when a legacy media company absorbs a start-up. While it may create short-term uncertainty, it could also lead to a more sustainable business model for the platform.
The ARY acquisition marks the end of Nukta’s short independent run. For its employees, the next few months will be testing, but the transition may provide the stability and direction the platform struggled to achieve alone.
