Pakistan’s ICT Exports Hit US$ 354 Million, Driving Record Trade Surplus
Pakistan’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector has delivered impressive results, posting export remittances of US$ 354 million in July. This represents a robust 23.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year and a 4.4 percent rise from the previous month, making ICT the top-performing service sector in the country and providing a crucial boost to the national economy.
The industry’s trade surplus surged to US$ 317 million, the highest among all service sectors and a year-on-year increase of 25.8 percent. This strong performance illustrates the growing international demand for Pakistan’s ICT services, which include software development, IT-enabled services, and digital outsourcing. Experts highlight that the ICT sector has shown remarkable resilience and continued growth even as other segments of the service sector struggle to maintain stability.
ICT exports now account for 47.5 percent of Pakistan’s total services exports, confirming their status as the country’s leading source of foreign exchange in this segment. The next largest contributor, Other Business Services, achieved US$ 151 million in export remittances during the same period, a figure significantly below that of ICT.
Despite this positive trend in ICT, the overall services sector recorded a deficit of US$ 126 million. This has further emphasized the role of the ICT industry in offsetting wider weaknesses in the national services trade. Without its strong performance, the deficit would have been even larger, adding extra strain on Pakistan’s economy.
The latest export figures confirm the ICT sector’s position as Pakistan’s fastest-growing service industry and a key component of its export strategy. As the sector continues to gain international traction, policymakers and industry experts are calling for ongoing investment in digital infrastructure, the development of a skilled workforce, and enhanced global market access to maintain momentum and strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global digital marketplace.
