ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports of services posted a growth of 14.85 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year from a year ago, mainly due to rising exports of information technology.

Unlike the exports of commodities, the export of services has posted positive growth since the start of the new fiscal year. In July, the export of services recorded a growth of 18.27pc from year ago, followed by 8.41pc in August on a year-on-year basis, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The growth in export of services is mainly led by telecommunication, computer and information services since July FY26 from a year ago. The export of services reached $2.199 billion in July-September FY26 from $1.914bn over the corresponding months of last year.

In rupee terms, the exports improved by 16.62pc to Rs621.696 billion in 3MFY26 against Rs533.079 billion in FY25. This clearly indicates that export of services is steadily on the rise in the current fiscal year.

Telecom and computer services drive surge to $2.2bn in 1QFY26

In September, the export of services reached $796.73m from $662.52m over the corresponding month of last year, indicating a growth of 20.26pc. On a month-on-month basis, the exports of services recorded a growth of 17.60pc.

In FY25, Pakistan’s export of services recorded a growth of 9.23 per cent to $8.39 billion from $7.68bn over the corresponding months of last year.

Services exports have seen positive growth since February 2024, mainly due to a surge in information technology exports as well as other business exports. However, there was a 6.50pc decline in August 2024.

According to the data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan, the exports of Telecommunications, Computer, and Information Services reached $1.057 billion in July-September FY26 against $877m over the corresponding months of last year, indicating a growth of 20.52pc.

The export of other Business Services recorded a growth of 22.16pc to $474m in 3MFY26 as against $388m over the corresponding months of last year. The export of transport services declined by 3.90pc to $197m in FY26 as against $205m over the last year.

However, the export of travel services recorded a negative growth of 3.71pc to $156m during the months under review as against $162m over the last year.

At the same time, the import of services surged by pc to $3.129bn in 3MFY26 as against $2.814bn over the corresponding months of last year. On a month-on-month basis, the import of services declined by 12.64pc.

In September, the import of services posted a growth of 3.17pc to $995.23m this year as against $964.67 over the corresponding months of last year.

The trade deficit in services increased by 3.39pc to $930.47m in 3MFvY26 compared to $899.95m in the corresponding months last year.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2025