ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the country’s annual information technology (IT) exports rising by 21 percent to USD 4.6 billion and called for renewed efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and improve the quality of IT training across the country.
The country’s information and communications technology (ICT) exports reached a record USD 4.6 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, which ended in June, registering a 21 percent increase compared with FY2024-25, according to Minister for IT Shaza Fatima.
Chairing a meeting on the IT sector roadmap, the prime minister said the export growth reflected government efforts to accelerate digital transformation.
He reiterated that strengthening the IT sector and boosting technology-driven exports remained key priorities, calling for a competitive and innovation-focused environment.
He directed third-party validation of all IT training programmes to ensure international standards and called for further expansion of digital infrastructure nationwide.
Officials briefed the meeting on IT ministry initiatives, informing that available mobile spectrum had increased from 274 MHz in June 2025 to 880 MHz in June 2026 to improve connectivity and internet speeds.
The prime minister was briefed on preparations for “Connect Pakistan Vision 2030” and the completion of the Software Technology Park in Bagh, AJK, while officials said smartphone penetration rose to 72 percent and fixed broadband and fibre-optic connections reached 5.1 million households by June 2026.
Officials said freelancers contributed USD 1.1647 billion to IT exports last fiscal year, while 130 government services were digitised under the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative.
The meeting was also informed that 942,646 IT training certificates were issued, alongside the completion of 5,053 high-end training programmes and 2,700 leadership and soft skills sessions.
Officials said the Women Innovation and Startup Empowerment Lab project would be inaugurated soon to promote women’s participation in the technology and startup ecosystem, while AI solutions under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Alibaba were being introduced across federal ministries and institutions.
According to the briefing, Alibaba is collaborating on AI initiatives with several public sector organisations, including the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Ministry of Railways, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Ministry of National Food Security, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Pakistan Single Window, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Pakistan Post, Capital Development Authority (CDA), Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The meeting was attended by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima, Education Minister Khalid Maqbool, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, State Minister for Finance Bilal Kayani, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026