Privacy Policy
How KarobarLink collects, uses, and protects your information.
Introduction
KarobarLink (SMC-Private) Limited (“KarobarLink,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) operates the KarobarLink mobile application and web platform (together, the “Platform”), connecting trained and verified service providers with households and companies across Pakistan, and providing vocational training, certification, and service-matching functionality. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the choices available to you.
This Policy applies to all users of the Platform: Trainees/Service Providers, Households, Companies, and Administrators.
Information We Collect
2.1 Information you provide directly
- Identity information: full name, CNIC number and CNIC images (for identity verification and KYC), date of birth, gender
- Contact information: phone number, email address, home or business address
- Profile information: skill category, work history, certificates, training records, profile photo
- Verification media: selfie photo taken during onboarding, for identity matching against the CNIC
- Payment-related information: bank account or mobile wallet details needed to receive payouts (processed through our licensed payment partner, see Section 5)
- Service request details: description of the job, photos or short videos of the work site, budget, and scheduling preferences
- Communications: messages sent through in-app chat, support tickets, ratings, and reviews
2.2 Information collected automatically
- Device information: device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers, app version
- Location data: precise GPS location during active service requests (for worker check-in/check-out, distance estimation, and matching nearby service providers); background location is only requested during an active, accepted job and is disclosed to you before activation
- Usage data: pages/screens viewed, features used, crash logs, session duration
- Camera and photo library access: only when you choose to upload a profile photo, a work-site photo, or a verification selfie
2.3 Information from third parties
- Verification results from identity-verification service providers, where used
- Payment and transaction confirmations from our licensed payment partner
- Information from training institutes or partner organizations you were referred through, where applicable
Why We Collect This Information
| Purpose | What it relies on |
|---|---|
| Verifying your identity before you can offer or request services | CNIC, selfie, phone number |
| Matching service requests with the nearest qualified, verified provider | Location, skill category, ratings |
| Issuing training certifications | Course progress, assessment results |
| Processing payments and escrow release between a Household/Company and a Service Provider | Payment details, transaction confirmations, via our licensed payment partner |
| Worker check-in / check-out and dispute resolution | GPS location during active jobs, work-site photos, timestamps |
| Customer support and safety investigations | Communications, account history |
| Improving the Platform and fixing issues | Usage data, crash logs |
| Complying with Pakistani law and responding to lawful government requests | Identity and transaction records |
CNIC and Other Sensitive Data
Your CNIC is government-issued identity information and we treat it with additional safeguards: it is stored in encrypted form, access is limited to the verification team and automated verification systems, it is never displayed in full to other users of the Platform (Households and Companies see a “verified” badge, not your CNIC), and it is retained only for as long as needed for verification, dispute resolution, and legal recordkeeping requirements, after which it is deleted or irreversibly anonymized.
How Payments and Escrow Work
KarobarLink does not directly hold or custody user funds. Payments between Households/Companies and Service Providers are processed through a licensed third-party payment service provider. KarobarLink receives transaction confirmations and status updates necessary to release funds once a job is marked complete, but does not store your full payment card or bank credentials — those are held by the licensed payment partner under its own security and regulatory obligations to the State Bank of Pakistan.
Data Storage, Security, and Retention
- Data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest
- Access to identity and payment data is role-restricted and logged
- Photos and videos are stripped of embedded location metadata (EXIF) before storage where not needed for verification purposes
- Account data is retained for as long as your account is active, plus a period required for legal, tax, and dispute-resolution purposes after closure, after which it is deleted or anonymized
Your Rights and Choices
- Access and correct your profile information at any time from within the app
- Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Request deletion of your account and associated data, available directly within the app under Settings, without needing to contact support
- Withdraw location permission at any time, noting that this will limit your ability to accept or track active jobs
- Opt out of non-essential notifications
Children
The Platform is not directed at, and may not be used by, anyone under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from minors.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as the Platform evolves or as Pakistani data protection regulation develops. Material changes will be notified in-app before they take effect. Continued use of the Platform after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.
Contact
- Data controller
- KarobarLink (SMC-Private) Limited
- Registered address
- Rizwan Centre 85 West, Second Floor (Right), Jinnah Avenue, Main Blue Area, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Privacy contact email
- hello@karobarlink.com