Pakistan becoming regional IT hub

IT & ITeS export receipts rose by $541 million to $2.82 billion, showing a trade surplus of $2.42bn, during July-March, according to Economic Survey 2024-25 released on Monday. The ICT exports included a contribution of $400 million by the freelancers, and the survey highlighted that the tech-savvy and professional youth are set to become a regional hub for digital services, tech entrepreneurship, and high-value software exports. During 9MFY25, significant strides were made in building Pakistan’s IT human capital and industry capacity. A total of 6,400 professionals were trained in advanced technologies, with certification ongoing for 3,400 more. Over 2,700 interns were placed in IT firms, achieving a 70pc retention rate, while soft skills and technical boot-camps trained thousands more.