Pakistan’s IT sector sees 30% surge in exports

The IT sector in Pakistan has experienced a remarkable 30% increase in exports, reaching $286 million in July of the current fiscal year, according to Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

This significant growth was revealed during a meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which reviewed various IT projects, including the Islamabad IT Park and the Digital Smart Cities initiative.

Minister Khawaja attributed this surge to the government’s dedicated efforts to enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s IT industry.

She commended Prime Minister Sharif’s commitment to the sector’s advancement.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif expressed his approval of the Islamabad IT Park’s progress, a key project aimed at boosting the country’s IT exports.

The timeline for the park’s completion has been moved up from June 2025 to February 2025, following expedited work by the Korean firm overseeing construction.

The project is now under continuous development, with frequent inspections by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that the Islamabad IT Park is vital to reaching the target of $25 billion in IT exports, calling it a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to elevate the IT sector and support economic growth.

The meeting also covered advancements in the Digital Smart Cities initiative, with Islamabad preparing to pilot a project that will offer 150 services via the Islamabad City Super application.

This app will cover a range of services including health, education, and law enforcement, and encourage public adoption of mobile applications for accessing government services.

Over the past five months, the IT sector has seen a substantial uptick, with a 30% rise in exports, the registration of 300,000 students in IT skill programs, and the establishment of four new incubation centers. Additionally, mobile phone production has increased by 30%, and mobile users have grown by 800,000.

Officials anticipate that investments totaling $77 million in various IT projects will lead to an additional $2.5 billion in IT exports.

The broader target includes $10 billion from digital transformation, $2 billion from the telecom sector, and $13 billion from government-driven initiatives.