Latest news with #ITSector
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Pakistan posts current account surplus of $1.9bln in July-April period
Islamabad: Pakistan recorded a current account surplus of 1.9 billion U.S. dollars during July to April of the fiscal year 2024-25, reversing a deficit of 1.3 billion US dollars in the same period last year, the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 showed on Monday. The improvement was attributed to robust inflows of workers' remittances, which reached a record 31.2 billion dollars during the ten-month period, representing a 31 percent year-on-year increase. A monthly high of 4.1 billion dollars was recorded in March 2025. The country's foreign exchange reserves rose to 16.6 billion dollars as of May 30, including 11.5 billion dollars held by the State Bank of Pakistan, the survey said. Export earnings stood at 26.9 billion dollars, growing by 7 percent year-on-year, while imports rose by 11.8 percent to 48.3 billion dollars, resulting in a trade deficit of 21.3 billion dollars. The Information Technology sector contributed significantly to external receipts, with export earnings of 3.1 billion dollars during the period, including 400 million dollars generated by freelancers. The rupee remained stable at 278.72 against the U.S. dollar, supported by improved external sector indicators. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arab News
17-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
PM Sharif says Pakistan witnessed world's biggest drop in gender digital gap in 2024-25
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday Pakistan recorded the world's biggest reduction in the gender digital divide in 2024-25, with eight million more women gaining access to mobile Internet. The announcement came on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, observed annually on May 17 to promote the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The day was institutionalized in 1969 to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on this day in 1865. Pakistan has been striving to advance gender equality in digital access to serve its broader economic goals, particularly as it seeks to attract foreign investment in its IT sector. 'Pakistan has made remarkable progress in narrowing the gender digital divide,' Sharif said in a statement released by his office. 'In 2024-2025, 8 million more women gained mobile Internet access, reducing the gender gap from 38 percent to 25 percent— the highest improvement globally, led by rural women,' he added. The prime minister highlighted that Pakistan's digital transformation includes surpassing 200 million telecom subscriptions, 150 million broadband users and two million fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections. Additionally, mobile manufacturing has grown by 47.46 percent, and international connectivity has been enhanced through high-capacity submarine cables. The prime minister noted the mobile ecosystem was now contributing $16.7 billion to Pakistan's economy. He said the government was committed to fostering a digital environment that promotes inclusion and empowers women through targeted policies, skills development programs and gender-sensitive digital infrastructure. Sharif also called on all stakeholders to champion gender-responsive digital transformation and continue building an inclusive and empowered digital Pakistan.
