Pakistan’s IT exports may cross $4.5 billion this fiscal year, minister tells NA

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Thursday told the National Assembly that Pakistan’s information technology exports were expected to exceed $4.5 billion during the current fiscal year amid continued growth in the sector.

Responding to questions during the Question Hour, the minister said IT exports had been increasing by nearly 20% annually over the past several years due to government reforms, policy support and digital skills initiatives.

She informed the House that IT exports stood at around $2.4 billion when the current government took office.

Shaza Fatima said the government had set a long-term target of achieving $15 billion in IT exports along with an additional $10 billion contribution through digital transformation initiatives.

The minister stated that the IT industry remained the only export-oriented sector operating under a final tax regime.

According to the minister, companies registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) currently pay 0.5% tax on exports, while non-registered firms are taxed at 1%.

Responding to supplementary questions related to internet infrastructure, the minister said Pakistan’s international connectivity had improved following the landing of three submarine cables in recent years.

She added that fibre-optic connectivity across the country had expanded significantly, with household fibre-based connections increasing from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.1 million within two years.

The minister also informed the House that the government was strengthening Pakistan’s cybersecurity framework to counter the growing risks of cybercrime and digital fraud.