Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Information Technology to submit a comprehensive roadmap outlining the sector’s performance, export targets, and strategies to reach $30 billion in IT exports. During a review meeting in Islamabad on the performance of NITB and the broader initiatives of the IT ministry, the prime minister asked for a clear breakdown of last year’s $3.8 billion in exports along with projections and actionable plans for the coming years.
The prime minister emphasized the importance of modernizing the digital ecosystem to bring it in line with global benchmarks. He stressed the need to reorganize NITB by hiring highly skilled talent from the market and enhancing its operational structure. The sector’s capacity to generate employment, especially for youth and women, was also highlighted as a key national priority.
The meeting revealed that IT exports had grown by 19 percent during the 2025 fiscal year. Additionally, the freelance workforce saw a significant increase of 91 percent. Investment agreements worth $700 million were signed, reflecting rising investor confidence in Pakistan’s tech landscape.
The IT ministry reported supporting 386 startups and establishing 40 e-employment centers across 26 cities. Vocational IT training was provided to approximately 315,000 students, of which 115,000 were women. The ministry also launched 130 startups led by women entrepreneurs, trained 2,200 federal government officers, and offered cybersecurity upskilling to 3,000 students.
In digital governance, Rs. 6.2 billion in taxes were collected through the Pak-App platform, while the e-office system was implemented in 98 percent of federal institutions. A total of 51 new digital governance systems were introduced to improve efficiency and transparency across departments.
Telecom sector advancements were also reviewed, with 4G services extended to over 580,000 new users. The number of telecom connections surpassed 200 million, with internet usage rising by 24 percent during the period. These developments reflect ongoing efforts to bridge connectivity gaps and expand digital access across the country.
NITB’s ongoing projects include the development of more than 179 websites, 31 mobile applications, 113 digital portals, and 57 consultancy engagements. The prime minister called for a complete restructuring of the board with a renewed focus on digital infrastructure, governance improvement, enhanced service delivery, cybersecurity frameworks, and innovation-driven outcomes.
These directives are aligned with Pakistan’s broader vision of becoming a competitive player in the global digital economy. The push to increase IT exports, strengthen institutional frameworks, and drive local innovation signals a renewed commitment to positioning the country as a tech-driven economy through strategic planning and execution.
