Pakistan’s freelancers brought in $549 million in foreign exchange during the first quarter (July to September) of fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27), a rise of 45 percent from $377.3 million in the same period last year. The increase works out to around $172 million, based on data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Information technology (IT) freelancers earned $333 million, up about 22 percent from $272 million a year earlier, while non-IT freelancers earned $215 million, more than double the $104 million recorded in the first quarter of FY26. The two categories add up to roughly the headline figure after rounding.
IT freelancers remain the larger contributor to export receipts, but the non-IT segment is growing at a much faster pace, with growth of 106 percent against about 22 percent for IT. The non-IT category covers content writers, voice-over artists, online teachers, e-commerce specialists, and other digital service providers, which suggests that freelancing is spreading beyond software development and design. The non-IT segment now accounts for about 39 percent of the quarter’s total, compared with about 28 percent a year earlier, based on the figures reported. Pakistan has an estimated three million freelancers, among the largest freelance communities in the world, and industry stakeholders say a coordinated strategy is needed to grow this workforce and improve its competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Ibrahim Amin, Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), said the growing export receipts of recent years reflect the rising contribution of digital workers and the expanding size of the freelance workforce. He said the gig economy is expanding worldwide, but Pakistani freelancers are not making full use of the opportunities on offer because of gaps in emerging technology skills, communication, and business development. Amin called on the government and the private sector to work together and prioritise training in in-demand technical and soft skills. He added that jobs in the formal industrial sector are limited, which makes freelancing a key alternative for young people looking for sustainable income, and that with consistency, dedication, and professionalism they can reach global markets through international freelancing platforms and earn foreign exchange.
Other voices in the sector also shared their outlook in a press release. Dr Noman Ahmed Said, a freelancing coach, said freelancers must keep upgrading their skills to keep pace with fast-moving technological change, which is reshaping global markets and creating uncertainty for businesses and independent professionals. He urged the government to introduce technology-focused education from school level so that the next generation gains digital literacy, technical expertise, and business development skills. The CEO of Si Global said the freelance workforce could grow from three million to four million within a year if the government develops a national roadmap and pursues long-term collaboration with the private sector to promote freelancing, skills development, and digital entrepreneurship. The release does not say how much of the increase comes from new freelancers entering the market and how much from higher earnings per freelancer, so it is not clear what is driving the jump in receipts.
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