By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Pakistan’s information technology exports climbed 19% to $2.61 billion in the first seven months of the fiscal year ending June 2026, driven by higher earnings from software firms, remote workers and freelancers serving global clients, data from the central bank showed.
The receipts marked a $431 million increase from $2.17 billion in the same July-January period a year earlier, according to figures released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The central bank’s data aligned closely with figures from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, which put the year-on-year growth at 19.78% and pegged last year’s equivalent at $2.18 billion.
“ICT export remittances surged 19.78 percent, reaching $2.61 billion during the first seven months of FY 2025-26 compared to $2.18 billion achieved during the corresponding period last year,” the IT ministry said in a statement. The sector has become a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings, generating more than $3 billion annually and employing about a million freelancers alongside formal software companies.
Unlike traditional manufacturing, IT services rely mainly on remote digital work such as software development and back-office outsourcing, offering resilience amid economic pressures but facing hurdles like payment restrictions, skilled worker outflows and unreliable infrastructure. The industry requires few imports and draws on Pakistan’s large pool of young talent, making it a focal point for government efforts to boost dollar inflows and ease balance-of-payments strains.
Monthly exports hit a record $437 million in December 2025, up from $348 million a year prior, but dipped to $374 million in January 2026, which was still 19.5% higher than $313 million in January 2025, the ministry said. The IT sector leads Pakistan’s services exports and ranks second overall behind textiles. In the last fiscal year, it recorded $3.8 billion in exports, outpacing rice at $3.6 billion.
Dr Noman Said, an IT exporter and chief executive of SI Global Solutions, said the industry could elevate Pakistan’s overall services exports and help shift the current account from deficit to surplus. He highlighted opportunities in artificial intelligence, saying emerging technologies had positioned Pakistan to gain a significant global foothold through its IT services, solutions and products. “We must provide quality training to the younger generation and equip them with skills in emerging technologies, both in software and hardware systems,” Said said, adding this would build local talent while enabling professionals to tap international markets.
In recent years, Pakistani IT firms and fintech operators have stepped up their presence at international events, including GITEX Global, GITEX Europe, LEAP in Saudi Arabia, the Singapore FinTech Festival, Money20/20, and roadshows in U.S. and UK cities. The IT ministry has supported these efforts with financial aid for companies, fintech players and startups.
Mehwish Salman Ali, a member of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) AI Committee, attributed the export growth to Pakistani firms’ expanding reach in traditional and new markets, especially in the Gulf. She recommended pursuing high-value clients through joint ventures and partnerships in the United States, Europe and Gulf countries to secure better returns and attract investment.
Pakistan has pursued fresh opportunities in Saudi Arabia, with several IT companies setting up subsidiaries and offshore offices in 2025, aided by strengthened bilateral ties in strategic and defence areas. The ministry said IT remained the top-earning services category, far ahead of “other business services” at $1.21 billion in the July-January period.
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