Govt Aims to Boost ICT Exports to $25.1 Billion by 2030

The Government has set a target of achieving US$ 25.1 billion in ICT exports by 2030, comprising US$ 15.3 billion from Information Technology and IT-enabled Services (IT & ITeS) and US$ 9.8 billion from the telecommunications sector, signalling an ambitious expansion of Pakistan’s digital economy and technology-driven exports.

Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, in a written reply to the National Assembly, said the government had adopted a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of the ICT sector, expand Pakistan’s footprint in international markets and develop the digital infrastructure required to support the industry.

The minister said Pakistan’s ICT export remittances had already reached $4.6 billion during FY2025-26, registering a 20.6 percent increase over $3.814 billion in FY2024-25.

Govt Aims to Boost ICT Exports to $25.1 Billion by 2030

The data showed ICT exports rising from $2.108 billion in FY2020-21 to $2.619 billion in FY2021-22, before slightly declining to $2.596 billion in FY2022-23. Exports then surged to $3.223 billion in FY2023-24 and $3.812 billion in FY2024-25.

According to the minister, ICT exports have consistently remained the highest-performing component of Pakistan’s services sector and are generating the country’s largest trade surplus within the services sector.

To facilitate freelancers, software exporters and technology companies, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has been working closely with the State Bank of Pakistan, commercial banks and the ICT industry to remove hurdles relating to foreign exchange transactions and international payments.

Banks have designated specialised branches and dedicated desks for IT exporters, while the State Bank has updated the Proceed Realization Certificate mechanism. The Digital Service Providers List has also been expanded, allowing Pakistani ICT companies to make international payments to a wider range of approved overseas digital service providers. The government has introduced a maximum turnaround time of one working day for processing inward export receipts and outward remittances from Exporters’ Special Foreign Currency Accounts (ESFCAs).

IT companies and freelancers are also no longer required to submit Form “R” for every individual export transaction. The threshold for obtaining Form “R” has been increased to transactions above $25,000, while documentation requirements for outward remittances have been standardised.

On the taxation front, the government has extended the 0.25 percent Final Tax Regime for IT exports through Tax Year 2029 and reduced advance tax on foreign card payments from 5 percent to 0.5 percent.

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The government has also restored tax pass-through treatment for venture capital funds and continued the Section 65F technology tax credit, aimed at encouraging investment and supporting startups.

PSEB has established new offices in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while its 24/7 MARKAZ helpdesk provides assistance on registration, visa facilitation and foreign-remittance-related matters.

To achieve the $25.1 billion target, the government plans large-scale human capital development, including specialised training, international certifications, bootcamps, apprenticeships and industry-academia collaboration.

It also plans to expand IT parks, software technology parks, Special Technology Zones and digital innovation facilities, alongside international marketing, trade delegations, B2B matchmaking and investor outreach.