Pakistan’s information technology exports continue to post strong growth, with December 2025 marking the highest monthly export value on record. According to a report by Topline Research, IT exports reached $437 million during the month, reflecting a 22.7 percent increase compared to November 2025 and a 25 percent rise over December 2024. The upward momentum was also visible in cumulative figures, as IT exports during the first half of FY26 totaled $2.2 billion, representing a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year. These numbers reinforce a clear trend of expansion in Pakistan’s IT sector, which has increasingly positioned itself as a key contributor to services exports and foreign exchange inflows.
Most of Pakistan’s IT exports are directed toward the Gulf region and primarily include computer software, IT consultancy for software and hardware, business process outsourcing services such as call centers, information services, and maintenance and repair of computer systems. Analysts attribute the recent surge to a mix of government policy measures and market driven developments. One of the most significant factors has been the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to relax the permissible retention limit in Exporters’ Specialised Foreign Currency Accounts from 35 percent to 50 percent through a notification issued on October 23, 2023. The policy was aimed at encouraging exporters of software, IT and IT enabled services, as well as freelancers, to boost export earnings and bring additional foreign exchange into the country. These accounts allow exporters to retain a portion of their proceeds to hedge against currency fluctuations and cover business expenses such as imports, overseas services, and dividend repatriation without prior approval from the central bank. Updated guidelines issued in 2024 further streamlined the process, allowing IT companies to use these funds for equity investments abroad, loan repayments, and the establishment of subsidiaries or branch offices overseas, subject to procedural requirements.
The expanding international footprint of major Pakistani IT firms has also played a critical role. Companies such as Systems Limited have steadily increased their presence in overseas markets, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. Systems Limited, a Rs231 billion company that reported annual revenues of Pkr 38.5 billion in 2024, earned 87 percent of its income from exports. Its annual report for 2025 showed that 59 percent of revenue came from the Middle East, Africa and other regions, followed by North America at 21 percent, Pakistan at 13 percent, Europe at 4 percent, and Asia Pacific at 3 percent. The company is planning to establish a subsidiary in the United Kingdom and is expanding further in the Middle East by targeting enterprise clients and offering specialized supply center services. Its entry into the business process outsourcing segment, providing shared services in accounting, human resources, and legal functions, highlights the diversification taking place within the sector. Similar expansion by firms such as Contour Software, ibex, and Strategic Systems has strengthened Pakistan’s capacity to capitalize on policy incentives and rising global demand for IT services.
Freelancers are another increasingly important pillar of export growth. Improved access to internet services, wider availability of compatible devices, and greater exposure to IT education have enabled a growing number of professionals to secure international clients through digital platforms. Freelancers generated about $400 million in FY 2024, and their contribution by the end of the current financial year is expected to reach between $0.8 billion and $1 billion. Overall, the IT sector now accounts for roughly 45 percent of Pakistan’s total services exports, valued at around Rs2.3 trillion. Against this backdrop, the government has set an ambitious target of achieving $10 billion in IT exports by 2028-29 under the Uraan Pakistan plan. While reaching that figure within three years may be challenging given current estimates of $4 to $5 billion in annual exports, the consistent upward trajectory underscores the importance of sustained investment in infrastructure, skills development, and export readiness. Industry observers note that expanding access to advanced markets in Europe and Asia Pacific, building capabilities in automation and AI, and supporting smaller IT firms through partnerships and incentives could further strengthen Pakistan’s position in global technology trade.
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