IT Exports Hit Record High in March 2025

Pakistan’s IT industry hit a historic milestone in March 2025, as IT exports reached a record high, signaling strong momentum in the country's growing tech sector. This achievement marks a turning point for Pakistan’s digital economy, showcasing its potential to become a regional IT powerhouse.

• IT exports crossed the $300 million mark in March 2025 — a historic high.

• Growth is driven by demand for software development, BPO, and IT-enabled services.

• Major markets: United States, United Kingdom, Middle East, and Europe.

• Freelancers and startups played a key role in boosting export numbers.

• Government initiatives like tax breaks and digital incentives spurred growth.

• Collaboration with international firms and tech incubators increased.

• Annual IT export revenue expected to exceed $3.5 billion by year-end.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB):

• Total IT & IT-enabled services (ITeS) exports in March 2025 hit an all-time high of $310 million, up from $260 million in March 2024.

• This marks a month-over-month growth of over 15% and a year-over-year surge of 19%.

• Software consultancy, mobile application development, and digital marketing services were the top-performing segments.

“This record proves the strength of our IT talent and the global demand for Pakistani digital services,” said Ameen Haq, Chairman of PSEB.

Here are the key reasons behind the record-breaking growth:

1. Rise in Global Demand for Remote Tech Talent

• Post-COVID work culture has permanently shifted towards remote teams.

• Pakistan’s cost-effective, English-speaking workforce is in high demand.

• Startups and SMEs in the West increasingly rely on outsourcing to Pakistan.

2. Expansion of Freelance Economy

• Pakistan ranks among the top 5 countries in the world for freelance earnings.

• Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com saw massive activity from Pakistani developers, designers, and content creators in Q1 2025.

• Freelancers contributed approximately $50 million to March’s exports alone.

3.  Government Support and Digital Policies

• Tax relief on IT exports extended till 2030.

• New digital policies under the “Digital Pakistan Vision 2.0” emphasized skill development, ease of doing business, and export facilitation.

• Launch of the “TechLift” program to train 100,000 IT professionals by the end of 2025.

United States – $110 million

United Kingdom – $45 million

Saudi Arabia & GCC countries – $40 million

Germany & other EU nations – $35 million

Canada – $20 million

Pakistan’s booming startup ecosystem is another reason behind this record:

• Over 120 new startups began exporting services in Q1 2025.

• Incubation hubs like NICs (National Incubation Centers) played a crucial role.

• Tech parks in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi provided affordable infrastructure and global linkages.

The inclusion of modern tech courses in universities and vocational programs is now paying off:

• Tech bootcamps have trained over 75,000 developers in the past 18 months.

• Partnerships with Coursera, Google, and Microsoft enabled Pakistani youth to gain certifications in AI, data science, and DevOps.

• The rise of platforms like Digiskills.pk helped thousands of students enter the freelance IT market.

March 2025 will be remembered as a landmark month in Pakistan’s digital journey. The record-high IT exports highlight not just the talent of the workforce but also the strategic direction and policy support that have made this possible.

If this momentum continues, Pakistan is well on its way to becoming a global digital leader — a bright future powered by code, creativity, and connectivity.