The export earnings of Pakistan’s freelancers surged to more than $350 million during the first two months of the current financial year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan. Export receipts from freelancers rose to $352 million during July and August 2026, compared to $244 million recorded during the corresponding period of 2025, marking a year on year growth of 44 percent.
The data showed a clear split between different categories of freelance work contributing to this total. Freelancers providing IT related services earned $212 million during the two month period, while those engaged in non-IT services generated $139 million. This breakdown suggests that while IT services continue to make up the larger share of freelance export earnings, non-IT freelance work has also grown into a substantial contributor to the country’s overall freelance economy, reflecting a broadening of the types of services Pakistani freelancers are offering to international clients.
Chairperson of the Pakistan Freelancers Association Ibrahim Amin said that Pakistani freelancers are continuing to strengthen their presence on international freelancing platforms, a trend he said is directly reflected in the rising export receipts being brought into the country. He described Pakistani freelancers as fast learners who are quick to acquire in demand skills, specifically pointing to AI tools and applications as an area where freelancers have shown notable adaptability in recent months. This growing familiarity with AI related tools appears to be helping freelancers remain competitive as international clients increasingly seek professionals capable of incorporating AI into their service offerings.
Amin also noted that many freelancers are now working in teams and providing multiple services through agencies registered on international platforms, a shift that suggests a maturing freelance ecosystem within Pakistan, moving beyond purely individual freelance work toward more organized, team based service delivery models. He credited the combined efforts of the government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations in conducting IT and skills development courses across different cities in the country, describing these initiatives as helping equip young people with market oriented skills alongside their academic qualifications. The continued rise in freelance export earnings adds to a broader pattern of growth within Pakistan’s digital economy, with freelancing increasingly serving as a significant contributor to the country’s overall export receipts alongside more traditional IT sector exports.
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