PM Orders to Present Roadmap for Boosting IT Exports to $30 Billion

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Information Technology to submit a detailed plan outlining last year’s export performance of $3.8 billion, annual targets for the coming years, and measures to achieve $30 billion in IT exports. Chairing a meeting on NITB and IT ministry initiatives in Islamabad, the prime minister called for reorganizing NITB, hiring top market talent, and strengthening the digital ecosystem to align with global standards. He noted the sector’s role in creating jobs, particularly for youth and women, and highlighted savings from e-office implementation in government departments. The meeting was told that IT exports grew 19 percent in FY2025, freelancers increased by 91 percent, and $700 million worth of investment agreements were signed. The ministry supported 386 start-ups, established 40 e-employment centers in 26 cities, and provided IT vocational training to about 315,000 students, including 115,000 women. It also launched 130 women-led start-ups, trained 2,200 federal officials, and upskilled 3,000 students in cybersecurity. On governance digitization, Rs. 6.2 billion in taxes were collected via Pak-App, e-office was implemented in 98% of federal offices, and 51 new governance systems were introduced. Telecom sector initiatives provided 4G access to over 580,000 additional users, pushing total telecom connections above 200 million, with a 24 percent rise in internet usage. NITB is currently developing over 179 websites, 31 mobile apps, 113 portals, and 57 consultancy projects, with a restructuring focus on infrastructure, governance, service delivery, cybersecurity, and innovation.