Privacy policy

1. Who we are

MarkDev Software House ("MarkDev", "we", "us" or "our") is a software house and digital agency based in Pakistan. We provide web development, e-commerce, web application development, digital marketing, graphic design and one-to-one IT training services.

For the purposes of this policy, we are the organisation responsible for the personal information described here. You can contact us at any time using the details in section 16.

2. What this policy covers

This policy applies to personal information we collect through:

• the markdev.org website, including the enquiry form on our contact page;
• enquiries and correspondence sent to us by email, WhatsApp, phone or social media;
• our client engagements, including project communication and billing;
• enrolments, demo class bookings and correspondence relating to our training programmes; and
• our marketing activities, including advertising campaigns and analytics on our own website.

It does not cover the privacy practices of third-party platforms you may reach from our website, or the data practices of client websites that we build and operate on behalf of a client.

3. Information you give us

We only collect the information you choose to provide. Depending on how you contact us, this may include:

• Identity and contact details — your name, email address, phone or WhatsApp number, business name and, where relevant, your job title.
• Project information — the description of what you need, your requirements, references, deadlines, budget ranges and any files you send us.
• Training information — the track you are interested in, your experience level, preferred session times and any information you share during a demo class or enrolment.
• Billing information — the details needed to raise an invoice and confirm payment. Card and bank details are handled by our payment providers; we do not store full card numbers.
• Correspondence — the content of your messages, emails and call notes.

4. Information we collect automatically

When you visit our website, our hosting provider and analytics tools may record technical information such as your IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, referring page, the pages you view and the time and date of your visit. This information is used in aggregate to understand how the site is performing and to keep it secure.

5. Cookies and similar technologies

Our website uses a small number of cookies and similar technologies, including:

• Essential cookies that are required for the site to load and function correctly.
• Analytics cookies that help us understand which pages are useful and where visitors arrive from.
• Advertising cookies set by platforms such as Meta and Google when you arrive from, or interact with, one of our advertisements.

You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking essential cookies may affect how parts of the site work, and blocking advertising cookies may mean you see less relevant advertising.

6. How we use your information

We use personal information to:

• respond to enquiries and provide quotations or proposals;
• deliver the services or training you have asked for, and manage the working relationship;
• issue invoices, take payment and keep accounting records;
• schedule training sessions, demo classes and related communication;
• send service updates about a project or a course you are enrolled in;
• send marketing communication where you have asked to receive it or where we have a legitimate interest in doing so, and you can opt out at any time;
• measure the performance of our website and campaigns; and
• meet legal, tax and regulatory obligations, and prevent fraud or misuse.

Where data protection law requires us to have a legal basis, we rely on one or more of the following: your consent, the performance of a contract with you, compliance with a legal obligation, and our legitimate interests in running and promoting our business.

7. When we share information

We do not sell personal information. We share it only where necessary, and only with:

• Service providers who help us operate — for example web hosting, email, analytics, advertising platforms, invoicing and payment processing.
• Advertising and analytics providers such as Google and Meta, when you interact with our ads or when analytics tools are active on our website.
• Professional advisers such as accountants or legal advisers, where required.
• Authorities or third parties where we are required by law to disclose information, or where disclosure is necessary to protect our rights or the safety of others.

Where we work with a client on a project, information shared between us is used only for the purpose of that engagement.

8. International transfers

Many of the platforms we use — including hosting, email, analytics and advertising services — are provided by companies that store data in other countries. Where information is transferred outside your country, we take reasonable steps to ensure it continues to be protected, including by using providers that offer appropriate contractual safeguards.

9. How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as we need it for the purpose it was collected, plus any period we are required to keep it for legal, tax or accounting reasons. In practice:

• Enquiries that do not become projects are generally kept for up to 24 months so we can pick up the conversation if you come back.
• Client project and billing records are kept for the period required by applicable tax and accounting rules.
• Training records are kept while you are enrolled and for a reasonable period afterwards.

When information is no longer needed, we delete it or anonymise it.

10. How we protect information

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, password-protected accounts and two-factor authentication on the platforms we use. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work to reduce risk and will notify affected individuals and any relevant authority if a breach occurs that is likely to affect them.

11. Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• ask what personal information we hold about you and receive a copy of it;
• ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete;
• ask us to delete information we no longer need;
• object to or ask us to restrict certain processing, including direct marketing;
• withdraw consent where our processing is based on consent; and
• ask us to transfer information you provided to you or to another organisation in a portable format.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in section 16. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request, and we will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law.

12. Marketing communication

If you receive marketing messages from us, you can opt out at any time by replying to the message, using an unsubscribe option where one is provided, or writing to us directly. We will stop sending marketing messages, but we may still contact you about a project or course you are actively involved in.

13. Children's privacy

Our services and training programmes are intended for adults and for students who are old enough to enter into an agreement. Where training is arranged for a minor, we ask a parent or guardian to make the enquiry and provide consent. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without that consent. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

14. Links to other websites

Our website and messages may link to third-party websites, including social media platforms and tools. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. We recommend reading the privacy policy of any site you visit.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology or legal requirements. The "last updated" date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. Where changes are significant, we will make that clear on this page.

16. How to contact us

If you have a question about this policy or about how we handle your information, contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• WhatsApp or phone: +92 309 733 3386
• Website: markdev.org/contact/