Govt seeks to boost ICT exports to USD25.1bn by 2030

Business Recorder reported that Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the National Assembly that Pakistan aims to lift ICT exports to USD 25.1 billion by 2030. Of that total, USD 15.3 billion is expected from IT and IT-enabled services, while telecommunications would contribute USD 9.8 billion. The figures were given in a written answer to parliamentary questions on Monday.

According to the minister, ICT export remittances climbed 20.6 percent to USD 4.6 billion in FY2025-26, up from USD 3.8 billion a year earlier. She added that the sector ranks first among services exports and records the largest surplus within that group. The strategy, she said, is meant to strengthen the digital economy, raise ICT competitiveness and widen its presence in overseas markets.

Following meetings between the Pakistan Software Export Board, the SBP, banks and industry representatives, a series of measures was put in place for IT exporters. Banks have designated branches with foreign exchange expertise and set up dedicated desks, while SBP revised the Proceeds Realization Certificate. Form R is no longer required for every individual export transaction, the threshold has been raised above USD 25,000, and exporters may keep 50 percent of remittances in foreign currency accounts.