Islamabad: Pakistan’s information technology and information and communication technology exports reached a record $4.6 billion in the last fiscal year, marking significant advancement in the country’s digital economy and artificial intelligence sectors.

According to Radio Pakistan, the IT sector also posted a trade surplus of $3.9 billion, the highest ever recorded in Pakistan’s services sector. Remittances earned by freelancers saw a 78 percent increase, totaling $1.76 billion during the fiscal year. This growth in the IT sector has been bolstered by government initiatives that include the promotion of digital skills, tax incentives, and the provision of foreign currency accounts for IT exporters, along with skill development programs.

The government has introduced the National AI Policy 2025 and allocated $1 billion for artificial intelligence research and sovereign computing initiatives, set to be implemented by 2030. Institutions like the Sino-Pak Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Haripur and the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) are contributing to education, research, and innovation in artificial intelligence.

The support of the Special Investment Facilitation Council is propelling the country towards increased global competitiveness in information technology and digital innovation.