Pakistan targets shift from IT services to tech products

September 15, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan is targeting a shift from exporting IT services towards technology products, digital platforms and technology-driven industries as part of its broader economic transformation agenda, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal said.

Speaking at the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum in Urumqi, the minister said Pakistan’s IT and ICT exports had reached a record $4.6bn in the last fiscal year, while the government was pursuing exports, productivity, innovation, investment and human resource development under Uraan Pakistan to achieve a $1tr economy by 2035.

“The next goal is not merely the export of services, but the promotion of technology products, digital platforms and technology-driven industries,” he said.

Ahsan Iqbal described the digital economy as a comprehensive programme for economic transformation rather than simply a technology agenda, with e-Pakistan forming one of the five key pillars of Uraan Pakistan, according to APP.

Pakistan’s digital user base has surpassed 150 million, while data usage has grown by around 25% over the past two years. Fibre connections have also increased from around 3 million to more than 5 million, with the country targeting wired broadband access for 10 million households.

The minister highlighted progress in reducing the digital gender gap, noting that the disparity in mobile internet usage had narrowed from 35% to 8%. Women’s mobile internet usage has meanwhile risen from 33% to 45%.

He stressed that women’s inclusion was critical to ensuring that digital transformation remained both economically effective and socially inclusive.

Pakistan is also expanding its capabilities in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, semiconductors, advanced industry and other emerging technologies. Seven AI centres are being established to link research, skills, startups and industry and help convert technological capabilities into economic opportunities.

Highlighting Pakistan’s strategic geographical position, Ahsan Iqbal said the country could serve as a link connecting China, Central and South Asia and the Middle East.

“We must turn regional connectivity into regional competitiveness,” he said.

He said digital technologies could improve efficiency across agriculture, industry, mining and energy, while CPEC 2.0 and Special Economic Zones could help connect Chinese technology and Pakistani businesses with regional markets.

CPEC 2.0 is focused on five areas, including development, employment, innovation, green energy and regional connectivity, he added.

Pakistan has also proposed four priority areas for practical cooperation under the SCO, including the creation of a digital trade corridor aimed at making cross-border commerce faster, easier and more cost-effective.

The proposal calls for greater integration of customs, logistics, electronic trade documentation, digital signatures and cross-border payment systems across the region.

Ahsan Iqbal also proposed a joint SCO framework for AI infrastructure and governance, with cooperation in areas including joint research, multilingual AI models, university partnerships and human resource development.

He emphasised that digital development should extend beyond major cities and large corporations to create opportunities for women, youth, rural communities, small farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises.

“The real measure of the forum’s success is not announcements alone, but the trade, investment, technology partnerships and employment opportunities generated through them,” he said.

Pakistan, he added, remains ready to work with China and other SCO member states to advance shared development and prosperity.

Copyright Mettis Link News