The next phase of IT industry growth requires more than producing software developers, freelancers

Dawn reported that a new study by the Pakistan Business Council finds computer services exports almost doubled from $1.67bn to $3.24bn over five years to FY25. Total information and communication technology exports reached $3.81bn, with the sector making up 45pc of services exports and a $2.4bn trade surplus, the largest among services categories. The report argues official numbers may understate the sector, and that earnings routed through remittance channels and foreign-registered Pakistani firms could push the true figure toward $5bn or more.

The study's main concern is the makeup of that growth. Freelance deals made up 90.8pc of logged IT export entries in FY25, yet they generated just 24.1pc of the value. The median freelance transaction fell 41pc, from $106 to $63, between 2021 and 2025, even though total freelance exports rose 114.6pc. The report links this pattern to growing commoditisation and greater exposure to artificial intelligence.

Lead investigator Badar Khushnood, a former P@sha chairman, says the sector needs to look beyond cheap outsourcing and strengthen physical infrastructure, talent, funding and institutional depth. The article also argues that data centres, AI capacity, reliable power and scaled-up local firms are needed for the next phase, with China-Pakistan cooperation proposed as one route.