As Sector Eyes New Markets and Technologies, Consistent policy backing and rising global demand fuel momentum
KARACHI: Pakistan’s IT sector continued its strong growth trajectory, with exports rising 23% year-on-year in the third quarter of FY2025, compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), export earnings from IT and IT-enabled services reached $2.828 billion between January and March 2025, up from $2.284 billion during the same quarter in FY2024.
Mehwish Salman Ali, CEO of Datavault and a leading IT exporter, attributed this sustained growth to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication’s (MoITT) proactive efforts to promote an export-driven strategy.
She noted that Pakistani IT firms are expanding their reach not only in traditional markets like North America and Europe but also in emerging regions, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other GCC countries, to secure new clients and contracts.
Ali emphasized the importance of embracing cutting-edge technologies and forming strategic alliances—both locally and internationally—to secure high-value projects globally.
Recent government measures to support IT exports have led to a noticeable increase in monthly inflows. In March 2025 alone, IT and IT-enabled service exports climbed to $342 million, up from $305 million in February.
Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze, echoed the call for market diversification, urging Pakistani companies to tap into the growing demand in GCC and ASEAN countries. He highlighted key sectors such as automation, ERP systems, artificial intelligence, fintech, gaming, and cybersecurity as areas with strong export potential.
Shah also emphasized the need to build skilled talent both within Pakistan and in key markets like the GCC to meet the evolving demands of international clients.
Notably, Pakistan made a significant impact at LEAP 2025 in Riyadh, with over 100 local companies exhibiting their innovations. Following this success, the Pakistani IT industry has set an ambitious target to double its annual exports to Saudi Arabia, aiming for $50 million.
