Services exports rise on back of IT boom

Published
0
Young people use laptops. — AFP/File
Young people use laptops. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan’s services exp­orts rose by 18.78 per cent in the first seven months of 2025-26 compared with the same period last year, mainly driven by higher earnings from information technology.

The performance contrasts with commodity exports, which have shown mixed trends, as the services sector has experienced continuous growth since the beginning of FY26.

According to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the export of services reached $5.66 billion in July-January FY26, up from $4.76bn a year earlier.

Monthly data indicated that services exports rose by 18.27pc year-on-year in July, followed by incre­ases of 8.41pc in August, 14.85pc in September, 17.61pc in October, 22.26pc in November, 15.94pc in December, and 31.12pc in January.

The growth in services exports is primarily driven by telecommunication, computer, and information services since July FY26, compared to the previous year. In rupee terms, exports increased by 20.22pc to Rs1.593 trillion in 7MFY26 from Rs1.325 trillion in FY25. This clearly indicates that service exports are steadily rising in the current fiscal year.

In January, services exports reached $885.09 million, up from $675.03 million in the same month last year, marking a growth of 31.12pc. On a month-on-month basis, services exports declined by 6.34pc.

In FY25, Pakistan’s services exports grew by 9.23pc to $8.39bn from $7.68bn in the same period last year. Service exports have been on the rise since February 2024, mainly due to a surge in information technology and other business exports.

However, there was a 6.50pc decline in August 2024.

According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, exports of telecommunications, computer, and information services reached $2.61bn in July-January FY26, up 19.72pc from $2.18bn in the same months last year.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2026

Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
Updated 01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

Pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, retail investors, and eventually, foreign investors must become bigger participants in the market.
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...