ISLAMABAD: Pakistani freelancers have further consolidated their importance in the country’s digital economy, increasing their share in overall IT exports to 25 percent during the first eleven months of the fiscal year 2025-26.
According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the export earnings of freelancers have crossed $1 billion for the first time, which is an important milestone in the country’s history. As per statistic, freelancers associated with IT and related sectors earned more than $1.06 billion in foreign exchange during July-May, which is about 49.7 percent more than $708 million in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Pakistan’s overall IT exports have also reached $4 billion this year, while the share of freelancers in the same period last year was 20.3 percent, which has now increased to 25 percent. According to industry experts, the growing trend of freelancing among the youth, increase in global demand for Pakistani digital services and government facilities have played a major role in this remarkable growth.
Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) Chairman Ibrahim Amin termed this achievement as historic one for the freelance community and said that with favorable policies, Pakistani freelancers can earn up to $3 billion annually in the next few years.
He welcomed the government’s decision to maintain the 0-25 percent final tax regime (FTR) for freelancers, saying that international freelancing platforms and payment services already charge 25 to 30 percent of their income in various fees and commissions.
Experts have also termed high-speed internet and uninterrupted power supply as essential for the continued growth of the sector. It is estimated that there are about 3 million freelancers in Pakistan, making the country one of the largest freelance markets in the world.
On the other hand, AI Integration Researcher Dr. Munawar Javed Ahmed said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the global employment landscape. Those freelancers who master AI technology and make it a part of their work will prove to be more successful in the future.
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