ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s IT and telecom export sector staged a strong recovery in April 2026, with monthly export remittances climbing to a record $423 million after a slowdown earlier this year, according to fresh data released by the State Bank of Pakistan.

The latest figures showed a 33% year-on-year increase compared to $317 million recorded in April 2025, while exports also rose 2.4% on a monthly basis from $413 million in March 2026.

The rebound signals renewed momentum in one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing export industries after two consecutive months of decline earlier in 2026, when IT exports slipped from $437 million in December 2025 to $374 million in January and further to $365 million in February.

According to the data, cumulative IT and telecom export remittances reached $3.811 billion during the first 10 months of FY2025-26, compared to $3.146 billion in the same period last year, reflecting overall growth of nearly 21%.

Industry analysts attributed the sector’s continued expansion to rising global demand for Pakistani software and technology services, increasing freelance earnings and a growing number of local firms securing international contracts.

The strong performance comes as the government intensifies efforts to position the technology sector as a key driver of foreign exchange earnings and digital economic growth.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed that Pakistan’s IT exports are expected to reach between $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion by the end of the current fiscal year.

Officials say the government is also accelerating nationwide digital infrastructure projects, expanding internet connectivity and preparing for future 5G deployment to sustain export growth.

The IT sector has increasingly emerged as one of Pakistan’s most resilient services industries, providing critical foreign exchange inflows at a time when the country continues to face external financing and trade pressures.