Pakistan’s IT exports surge to hit $3.4bn in 9MFY26

June 11, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's Information Technology and Telecommunication sector has shattered previous records, with IT export remittances surging by 19.7% to hit a monumental $3.38bn during the first nine months of FY26.

This phenomenal growth is complemented by a massive digital inclusion wave, pushing total broadband subscribers to 161m and generating Rs 837bn in telecom revenues.

Fueling this digital revolution is an army of tech freelancers who brought in US$ 856.3m, proving that the nation's transition toward a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy is moving at unprecedented speed, according to Chapter 15 (Information Technology and Telecommunication) of the recently released Pakistan Economic Survey FY26.

The IT Export Boom and Infrastructure Expansion

The IT sector has solidified its position as a strategic pillar for economic stabilization and export diversification.

The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) reported a highly impressive trade surplus of US$ 2.91bn for the IT industry, which accounts for 86% of the total ICT export remittances.

This boom is backed by 34,420 registered IT and IT-enabled services companies and a concerted effort to establish over 50 Software Technology Parks nationwide.

Furthermore, the government’s ambitious "Digital Nation Pakistan" framework aims to boost local infrastructure, highlighted by the upcoming mega IT Parks in Islamabad and Karachi that are projected to create over 20,000 jobs combined.

Source: State Bank of Pakistan

Telecommunications: Hyper-Connectivity and 5G Milestones

On the telecommunications front, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has driven extraordinary connectivity milestones, with the total number of telecom subscribers (mobile and fixed) crossing the 207.2m mark.

Cellular mobile networks now cover 92% of the population, supported by over 60,014 cell sites, of which 97% are 4G-enabled.

This aggressive infrastructure rollout has dramatically lowered data costs for consumers, dropping the effective price of 1 GB of data to a highly affordable Rs 34.3.

Broadband subscribers surged by an impressive 174% over recent years, climbing from 58.7m in FY 2018 to a staggering 161m by March 2026.

Correspondingly, overall broadband penetration skyrocketed to 64.2%, up from just 32.6% in 2019, reflecting the rapid digitization of Pakistani society and the massive expansion of 3G and 4G networks.

Parallel to the broadband explosion, total telecom subscriptions which include both mobile and fixed connections crossed the 207.22m mark by the end of March 2026.

This phenomenal expansion pushed the national teledensity rate to a robust 82.6%.

The cellular mobile segment remains the undisputed primary contributor to this overall growth, driving the vast majority of both subscriber acquisition and teledensity figures

Furthermore, 2025 was declared the "Year of 5G," capped by a highly successful 5G spectrum auction that generated approximately US$ 509.6m, setting the stage for commercial rollouts in major cities including Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

Source: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority

Innovation, AI, and Local Manufacturing

Innovation and human capital development form the final pillar of this digital renaissance. Under the new Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025, the government aims to train 200,000 individuals annually and fund hundreds of AI projects to position Pakistan competitively in the global digital economy.

The Ignite National Technology Fund has also been instrumental, training over 5.14m individuals through the DigiSkills program and facilitating massive freelance earnings.

Simultaneously, the local Mobile Device Manufacturing ecosystem is flourishing, with over 161.6m handsets manufactured locally since 2019, pushing the smartphone network penetration to a robust 71.6%.

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