IT exports rise 20pc in 7MFY26

Information technology (IT) exports surged 20 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to reach $2.6 billion in the first seven months of FY26, according to a Topline Research report issued on Wednesday.

In January 2026 alone, the country recorded IT exports of $374 million, marking a 19 per cent increase from a year earlier but slipping 14 per cent month-on-month (MoM) from December. The slowdown reflects typical seasonal variations and delayed payments from some foreign markets, analysts said.

Net IT exports, calculated by subtracting imports related to the sector from total exports, stood at $314 million in January, representing a 12 per cent YoY increase, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to the country’s external accounts.

While the government has set an ambitious FY26 target of $5 billion in IT exports, Topline Research expects actual export growth to range between 18 per cent and 20 per cent, bringing total receipts for the fiscal year to around $4.5 billion, up from $3.8 billion in FY25.

Looking ahead, the government’s medium-term development agenda, ‘Uraan Pakistan’, aims to push annual IT exports to $10 billion by FY29, which translates into a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 27 per cent over the next three years.

Analysts note that achieving this goal will depend on sustained policy incentives, improved digital infrastructure and enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors to sustain global competitiveness in software and freelance services.