ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's information technology (IT) sector has witnessed impressive growth, with IT service exports reaching $2.177 billion during the first seven months of the fiscal year 2024-25. This marks a 26.53% increase from the $1.720 billion earned in the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The rise in IT exports highlights the country's growing technological capabilities and its increasing presence in the global digital economy. The most significant boost came from computer services, which surged by 32.72%, climbing from $1.397 billion in 2023-24 to $1.855 billion in July-January 2024-25.
Among the various sectors within the computer services category, software consultancy services saw the most substantial growth, with exports rising by 35.51%. This segment grew from $476.017 million to $645.036 million, showcasing the country's strong capabilities in software development and consulting services.
In addition to software consultancy, hardware consultancy services also experienced modest growth, up by 4.39%, from $3.338 million to $3.485 million. However, computer software exports faced a slight dip, declining by 4.27% from $359.618 million to $344.260 million. Despite this, the overall computer services sector saw remarkable gains, fueling the IT export growth.
The "other computer services" category experienced a significant rise of 54.52%, jumping from $557.415 million to $861.326 million, reflecting a strong demand for a variety of digital services, including IT support, system integration, and cloud services.
Another remarkable achievement came in the information services sector, which saw an astronomical rise of 736.66%, growing from $2.097 million to $17.551 million. This surge was largely driven by a dramatic increase in news agency services, which grew by an incredible 1197.51%, from $1.269 million to $16.475 million. This highlights the growing importance of digital media services and content creation within Pakistan’s IT export portfolio.
While the IT sector overall showed strong performance, telecommunications services experienced a slight decline. Telecommunication services saw a 5.05% drop, decreasing from $320.891 million to $304.675 million. The decline was primarily attributed to a decrease in "other telecommunication services," which fell by 29.80%, from $176.565 million to $123.946 million. However, call center services remained a bright spot, with exports increasing by 25.22%, rising from $144.326 million to $180.728 million.
The data reveals Pakistan's growing competitiveness in the global IT landscape, with substantial gains in areas such as software consultancy, computer services, and information services. While telecommunications faced some challenges, the overall growth in IT exports underscores the sector’s potential to drive economic growth and job creation in the country.
With continued focus on digital transformation, the IT sector is expected to remain a key player in Pakistan's economic development. The government's support and investment in technology and innovation, coupled with the increasing global demand for IT services, bode well for the future of Pakistan's IT industry.
