Pakistani freelancers log over $175m in July

Mettis Global reported, citing State Bank of Pakistan data, that Pakistani freelancers earned $175.439 million in foreign exchange during July 2026, the opening month of the current financial year. That figure was about 45.5 per cent higher than the $120.556 million recorded in July 2025, an increase of $54.883 million. Information technology services accounted for $106.778 million of the July total, up from $89.872 million a year earlier.

Non-IT services brought in $68.661 million during the month, against $30.684 million in July 2025. Ibrahim Amin, chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), said the sector must keep growth above 50 per cent in the coming months to achieve a meaningful rise before the fiscal year ends. In a press release, Amin described freelancing as one of the better online income routes for young people and students, provided they strengthen technical and interpersonal abilities, among them business growth, clear communication and managing clients.

Amin added that the government and private sector are jointly widening skills training for young people so they can join the digital workforce. He pointed to the inaugural freelancers' awards, launched jointly by PAFLA and the Pakistan Software Export Board, as a way to acknowledge their role in the economy. Such steps, he said, could nudge students and young professionals toward online work as a steady source of earnings.