Pakistan’s IT exports projected to cross $4.5bn, PM told
By Tanveer Ahmed :
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Monday that Pakistan’s information technology exports were expected to rise to between $4.5bn and $4.6bn during the current fiscal year, reflecting continued growth in one of the country’s fastest-expanding economic sectors.
The figures were shared during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister to review the performance and ongoing initiatives of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Officials briefed the meeting on the rapid expansion of digital connectivity across the country, saying the number of domestic internet connections had increased significantly from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.1 million in 2026. The government views the expansion as a key step towards improving digital access and supporting the country’s growing online economy.
The meeting was also told that Pakistan’s recent 5G spectrum auction generated approximately $509m in revenue, marking a major milestone in the government’s efforts to modernise telecommunications infrastructure and improve high-speed internet services nationwide.
Officials highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem and promoting emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Under those efforts, “Indus AI Week” was organised in February 2025 across 30 cities, drawing more than 100 international delegates and featuring 88 technology pavilions focused on innovation and digital development.
The government also outlined progress on public connectivity projects in Islamabad, where fibre internet services have been extended to government schools and healthcare facilities. Authorities said work on providing free public internet hotspots in the capital was nearing completion.
In addition, the meeting was informed that e-learning pods were being installed at Saidpur Model Village and Fatima Jinnah Park as part of broader plans to improve digital education and provide technology access in public spaces.
Addressing participants, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the promotion of the IT sector and the increase in technology-related exports remained among the government’s central economic priorities. He said Pakistan’s young population possessed significant potential in the technology industry and stressed that greater efforts were needed to fully utilise their skills and capabilities.
The prime minister directed authorities to accelerate work on establishing Asaan Khidmat Centres in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, adding that provincial governments should also coordinate to expand similar facilities across the country.
He further emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between federal, provincial and district administrations to narrow the digital divide between urban and rural communities, saying wider internet access and digital services were essential for economic growth and social development.
Pakistan has increasingly focused on the technology sector as a source of export earnings and employment opportunities, particularly as the country seeks to reduce dependence on traditional industries and strengthen its digital economy. Officials have repeatedly described IT as one of the sectors capable of driving long-term economic growth despite broader financial challenges facing the country.
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