
IT exports hit record at $4.6b
Pakistan's information technology, IT-enabled services (ITeS) and freelancers' exports hit an all-time high of $4.6 billion in fiscal year 2024-25, higher by 26.4% from the previous year, but stakeholders still complained about the lack of government support.
The total exports included $3.8 billion in services' exports and $779 million in earnings from freelancing and remote work, up 90%.
The Ministry of IT and Telecom stressed that the government focused on action across five core areas that contributed to the massive growth. These areas comprised positioning Pakistan globally, investing in talent and infrastructure, protecting and supporting through policy, ensuring stable high-speed internet and digitalisation, especially digitising the economy and cashless initiatives.
IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that Pakistan was well on its way to achieve $15 billion in IT exports by 2030. She credited the achievement of $4.6 billion in IT exports to a unified national strategy, led by the government and supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and allied institutions.
Speaking to the media, the minister said, "This success is the result of close coordination between the civilian and military leadership, along with contributions from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission, Universal Service Fund (USF), Ignite and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB)."
She highlighted the government's focus on developing human capital, with over 350,000 youth trained through joint programmes with PSEB, Ignite, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Higher Education Commission (HEC) and global tech leaders like Google, Huawei and Microsoft.
Shaza Fatima said that the IT ministry had launched 43 new co-working spaces and 23 Special Technology Zones last year, taking the total number of tech parks to 44. These facilities now house over 18,000 professionals engaged in freelancing, remote work and tech startups.
She also announced government-backed incentives to expand those spaces into tier-2 and tier-3 cities through interest-free loans. "We're rapidly emerging as a regional digital and data hub," she stated.
Highlighting the growth in connectivity, the minister said that Pakistan had over 200 million mobile service subscribers, with 150 million active mobile broadband users. Data usage jumped 24% last year and is expected to grow further, signalling deepening digital penetration.
She said that USF connected over 550 villages to the internet in the past one year and aimed to double that number in the current fiscal year. "We're bridging the digital divide in areas the market doesn't serve."
Shaza Fatima announced that the regulatory groundwork for licensing the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet providers was nearly complete and licences would be issued in the current year.
Speaking about the government's $25 billion digital vision, the minister elaborated that $15 billion was targeted through IT exports and $10 billion via national digitisation. "We're well on track to achieve this goal," she asserted. One of the key pillars is the Digital Pakistan Act, which paves the way for the Pakistan Digital Authority.
As the minister outlined the achievements, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) demanded that the government come up with a long-term, predictable tax and compliance framework for the technology and ITeS sector. Association Chairman Sajjad Syed, in a statement, said that innovators were compelled to spend too much time navigating the overlapping regimes and too little time developing export products.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Chinese firm eyes ICT, energy sectors
Pakistan, by contrast, has opted out of the ITA, one of the world's most successful digital trade agreements, whose membership has grown to 86 countries accounting for over 97% of global digital trade.: photo: file A three-member Chinese delegation led by Lu Jie, Founder and Chairman of GuoDong Group, met Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Sunday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Global Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The delegation showed strong interest in investing in Pakistan's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, especially in building telecom towers, data centers, and cloud computing systems. Jie also expressed a desire to invest in Pakistan's new energy sectors, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, smart city technologies, and advanced material manufacturing, according to a press release from the IT Ministry.


Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
IT minister discusses AI, fibre collaboration
Listen to article Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, held back-to-back meetings with top Chinese tech firms during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai to advance Pakistan's digital agenda. In a meeting with PeaceCable International Network, led by CEO Sun Xiaohua and Sales Director Zhuang Wei, talks focused on enhancing digital connectivity through submarine and terrestrial fibre-optic infrastructure. PeaceCable shared details of its $24 billion portfolio in submarine cables, fibre, and power solutions. Khawaja briefed the delegation on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's vision for a "Digital Pakistan," highlighting the National Fiberisation Policy. Key targets include connecting 10 million homes to fibre broadband in three years and increasing fiberised mobile towers from 14% to 60%. She encouraged PeaceCable to invest in FTTH rollout, the ODN market, and terrestrial fibre, assuring full support from the Ministry of IT and Telecom (MOITT). In a separate meeting, Khawaja met with a Chinese delegation led by Cheng Dong of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. Other members included Liu Yuangui of Shenlan Technology, Prof Zhao Shanting, and Dr He Bin from the Zhangjiang High-tech City Medical Innovation Research Institute. The meeting focused on AI skill development, digital governance, and tech innovation in smart cities and medical research. Discussions included launching an AI skills exchange programme for Pakistani youth, digital solutions with Pakistan's National IT Board, and joint ventures in health tech, edtech, and fintech. Chinese delegates also proposed showcasing smart maintenance machinery and AI-powered tools in Pakistan.


Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Digital sectors: Minister, Chinese envoy vow to deepen cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja met with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at the Ministry of IT, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in key digital sectors. The discussion covered smart city projects, Artificial Intelligence (AI) programmes, and broader technical collaboration, marking a renewed pledge by both nations to implement inclusive, mutually beneficial initiatives in the emerging tech space. Ambassador Jiang assured China's continued support for Pakistan's digital transformation through hands-on collaboration and knowledge exchange. Meanwhile, Minister Khawaja is currently representing Pakistan at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, where she is leading the country's delegation and promoting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's 'Digital Nation Pakistan' vision. Her presence at the global forum reflects Pakistan's ambition to position itself as a regional leader in AI and innovation. On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Khawaja also held a bilateral meeting with Nepal's Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung. The two leaders discussed strengthening digital cooperation in South Asia, focusing on emerging technologies, regional connectivity, and digital capacity-building. Both ministers expressed commitment to establishing a sustainable and integrated digital ecosystem across the region. Earlier this week in Islamabad, Minister Khawaja also welcomed a delegation from Arizona State University and Pakistan's National Institute of Technology (NIT). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025