News
April 24, 2026
Freelancers Earn $856 Million in FY26 Third Quarter, Marking 50% GrowthIslamabad: Pakistani freelancers earned $856 million during the third quarter of the current fiscal year, state media reported this week, marking an increase of 50% compared to the same period last year.
Pakistan’s IT and IT-enabled services sector has emerged as one of the country’s fastest-growing sources of foreign exchange, generating over $3 billion annually and employing roughly a million freelancers in addition to formal software firms.
Pakistan set up the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a hybrid civil-government body formed in 2023 to attract foreign investment in IT, agriculture, mines and minerals and other sectors of the economy. Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif said in 2023 that Pakistan was aiming to attract $20 billion of investment in the information technology sector by focusing on Gulf states over the next five years.
“Pakistani freelancers earned up to eight hundred fifty-six million dollars by third quarter of current fiscal year, posting an increase of 50% in foreign exchange earnings,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.
“An increase of 289 million dollars has been recorded, compared to 567 million dollars in the third quarter of the previous financial year.”
The report cited Pakistan Freelancers Association Chairman Ibrahim Amin as saying that thousands of people are joining the freelancing market through government and non-government training programs every month.
“He said the Ministry of IT, Pakistan Software Export Board and Special Investment Facilitation Council are providing a conducive environment for freelancing,” the state broadcaster said.
The surge in earnings takes place as Pakistan attempts to ensure sustainable economic growth by driving exports and undertaking reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund.
Islamabad has tried to invite investments from regional countries in key economic sectors as it seeks to reduce dependency on foreign remittances and expensive loans. - AN
Courtesy AN
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