ISLAMABAD: For years, Pakistan’s greatest export was thought to be hidden beneath the soil or tied up in factories. But recent numbers suggest otherwise: our true national asset is digital and it’s sitting at laptops in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Multan. Between July and December 2025, Pakistani freelancers earned a staggering $557 million from overseas clients a 58% increase compared to the same period last year. That’s over half a billion dollars in just six months.
So how did a country navigating economic turbulence rise to become the world’s third or fourth-largest freelancing hub?
The answer is simple: digital grit. Nearly 2.37 million Pakistanis are bypassing conventional economic hurdles to directly sell their skills to the global market.
Software development, AI data training, cloud infrastructure, UI/UX and graphic design Pakistan is delivering services that rival Silicon Valley, Bangalore, and beyond. As someone who regularly hires tech talent, I can confidently say: Pakistani freelancers can compete at the highest level.
What’s especially encouraging is the government’s approach this time. Policies are finally enabling growth instead of holding it back. The State Bank of Pakistan allowing freelancers to retain 50% of their earnings in US dollars is transformative. It fosters trust, encourages reinvestment locally, and signals that Pakistan wants this talent to remain within the formal economy. Combine this with a mere 0.25% withholding tax for IT professionals registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board, and you have a clear incentive for freelancers to stay compliant and thrive.
Credit is also due to IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and the Ministry of IT and Telecom team for focusing on implementation. Expanding digital infrastructure, pushing programs like DigiSkills, and introducing seamless payment solutions through collaborations with blockchain-enabled platforms like Fasset are all concrete steps creating an ecosystem where freelancers can succeed.
But why should everyday Pakistanis care about these numbers? Because this isn’t just digital income it’s decentralized wealth. A single web developer or cybersecurity expert in a Tier-3 city can earn top-tier foreign dollars, spend them locally, and improve their community. It’s a virtual “brain drain reversal” talent no longer needs a plane ticket or visa to export their skills.
This momentum is lifting the entire IT sector. Pakistan’s total IT exports hit $2.61 billion in the first seven months of FY26, with January alone contributing $374 million. At this pace, freelance earnings are on track to cross $1 billion by year-end, potentially pushing overall IT exports to $4.5 billion.
Looking ahead, the government’s Uraan Pakistan initiative aims for $10 billion in IT exports by FY29. Achieving that target will require sticking to the fundamentals: reliable and high-speed broadband, advanced skills training in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity, and continued support for a thriving digital marketplace.
Pakistan’s young freelancers aren’t just part of the global gig economy they’re setting the pace. It’s time we acknowledge them as our most valuable economic shield, a workforce capable of generating immense foreign revenue without leaving home.
