Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that Pakistan aims to achieve $25 billion in information technology (IT) exports within the next five years, urging experts and entrepreneurs to devise a plan to meet this target.
Pakistan’s IT sector, although still developing, has shown significant potential for growth. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, IT exports surged to $3.2 billion, a 24% increase from the previous year’s $2.59 billion. The sector is expected to play a critical role in generating foreign exchange for the cash-strapped country.
However, recent challenges threaten this growth. Internet speeds in Pakistan have dropped by 30-40% in recent weeks, impacting millions of users and disrupting businesses. The telecommunications authority has attributed the slowdown to damaged underwater cables, while IT Minister Shaza Khawaja cited increased VPN use. Some advocacy groups, however, suspect the slowdown could be linked to the government’s trial of a new web management system, possibly a national firewall. The government insists any such system will not be used for censorship.
Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) warned that the economy could lose up to $300 million due to these internet disruptions.
During a ceremony organized by Google, where it launched an initiative to manufacture 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan, PM Sharif reiterated the urgency of the $25 billion target. “The target is simple, and we must reach $25 billion in five years. Provide a roadmap to achieve this figure,” he stated.
Google’s Regional Director for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, Farhan S. Qureshi, highlighted the significant opportunities for freelancers in Pakistan. With 2.37 million active freelancers, Pakistan ranks among the top four global providers of freelance services. However, slow internet services are hampering the productivity of freelancers and IT companies alike.
Tufail Ahmed Khan, president of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), expressed concerns over the ongoing internet disruptions, which have already affected freelancing platforms like Fiverr, causing some Pakistani accounts to be made unavailable.
Khan emphasized that without a clear resolution timeline, Pakistan’s reputation in the global freelance market could be at risk.
