Pakistan’s tech exports rise 33pc to $423m in April

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s technology exports continued their upward trend in April 2026, increasing 33% year-on-year to $423 million from $317 million in the same month last year, according to data reported by the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday.

The latest figures also showed a 2.42% month-on-month increase from $413 million in March 2026, extending a run in which monthly technology export proceeds have remained above $400 million.

Trend data cited in the report indicated that the country’s IT exports had been strengthening over the past year. In March 2025, exports stood at $313 million before edging up to $317 million in April 2025, and then accelerating through FY26. The sector recorded particularly strong momentum in the latter half of the fiscal year, with export receipts rising steadily to record levels.

Cumulative exports post strong growth

During the first ten months of FY26, cumulative technology exports reached $3.81 billion, compared with $3.15 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting annual growth of 21%.

The IT sector remains one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing export industries and continues to make a significant contribution to services exports, even as the economy faces global uncertainty and domestic macroeconomic pressures.

The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication welcomed the development in a post on X, saying Pakistan had already exceeded the full-year IT export figure recorded in FY2024-25 within the first ten months of FY2025-26.

Adviser to the Finance Minister on Economic Affairs Khurram Schehzad also highlighted the latest performance and said April’s monthly technology exports of $423 million were the second-highest figure on record, with 33% year-on-year and 2% month-on-month growth. He added that cumulative exports in 10MFY26 had risen to $3.8 billion, up 21% from a year earlier, and said the sector was steadily becoming an important driver of export growth and economic transformation.

"Pakistan's ICT sector has achieved a major milestone: the nation has already surpassed the entire IT export figure recorded in FY2024/25 within just the first ten months of FY2025/26," the ministry said:in its post on X.

"Another strong milestone for Pakistan's IT sector," Schehzad wrote.

Analysts cite demand and policy support

Analysts linked the expansion to growing international demand for Pakistani software development, cloud solutions, business process outsourcing and freelancing services. They also pointed to improved digital payment channels, the expansion of export-oriented technology firms, and a widening global client base for startups and software houses.

Si Global CEO Noman Ahmed Said told The Express Tribune that Pakistan’s technology workforce remained a major strength.

"Pakistan's IT sector has now proven that talent is our strongest export commodity," he said.

"If we combine AI?focused education, cybersecurity readiness, international academic collaboration and business digitisation with supportive policies and easy financing, Pakistan can emerge as a serious global technology destination rather than just a low?cost outsourcing market," he added.

Compared with regional players such as India, which has more than $200 billion in annual IT services exports, and emerging economies including Vietnam and the Philippines, Pakistan still has substantial room for expansion. The current pace should be seen as a base for further growth rather than an endpoint.

Sustaining the government’s FY29 target of $10 billion under the Uraan Pakistan vision would require moving beyond basic outsourcing into higher-value segments such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics and product engineering. It also said industry-led syllabus reforms were needed to improve global exposure and narrow the gap between academia and industry.

AKD Securities Director Research Mohammed Awais Ashraf said rising internet penetration, an increasing number of IT graduates and supportive government policies had significantly helped technology exports. He added that the launch of 5G services, improving global connectivity and rupee stability would further improve internet availability and help maintain momentum in the sector.