IT exports grow over 20pc, may reach $4.5bn this tear: Finance Minister

ISLAMABAD, Jun 12 (APP): Finance and Revenue Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday said Pakistan’s IT exports have recorded annual growth of more than 20 per cent and are projected to reach $4.5 billion during current financial year, making the sector one of the fastest-growing components of the country’s export base.

Presenting the Federal Budget 2026–27 in the National Assembly, he said the information technology sector is witnessing rapid expansion and playing an increasingly important role in strengthening the national economy and enhancing export earnings.

Highlighting key developments in the telecommunications and digital transformation sectors, the minister said a major milestone was achieved in March with the successful auction of the G-Spectrum, which he described as one of the largest spectrum auctions globally. The auction has paved the way for the rollout of 5G services in five cities.

He said the government has abolished Right of Way charges, significantly expanding fibre connectivity across the country.

As a result, the number of households with fibre access has increased from 2 million in 2024 to 5 million, while telecom tower fibreisation has improved from 4 per cent to 18 per cent.

The minister further said Pakistan’s first National Artificial Intelligence Policy has been approved, adding that nearly one million young people have received training in information technology and artificial intelligence skills over the past year.

Aurangzeb said the Digital Nation Pakistan Act has provided the legal foundation for the country’s digital transformation. He noted that the initiative includes a National Digital ID, a National Data Exchange Layer, and an open data ecosystem, while federal institutions, the judiciary, and parliament are also moving towards digitalisation to enhance transparency, efficiency, and service delivery.