As a distinct source for software development Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) sector is establishing itself in developing into BPO and freelancing. In recent years experts recorded that Pakistan’s IT industry has witnessed remarkable growth after strong human capital, competitive cost advantage, and a growing ecosystem of startups and tech companies.
The Government of Pakistan moreover, has taken various measures to enhance and support the IT sector by organising special technology parks and zones to offer a conducive environment for IT firms to conduct operations. As a consequence, these measures have not only encouraged investments in the industry but also facilitated the growth of various startups. These measures created a gateway for the country’s IT experts to demonstrate their ability to cultivate innovative solutions and disruptive technologies, gaining recognition globally.
In the world, industry experts also recorded that Pakistan was ranked fourth for freelancing development, and IT exports surged by 70 per cent in the last 3 years. Statistics showed that at a fast pace Pakistan’s digital growth is growing. Technology exports were the highest of all time, totaling $1.067 billion in FY2018, up from $939 million in the prior year.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan’s software exports are reportedly worth $700 million. Furthermore, in comparison to FY2021, Pakistani freelancers made $396.243 million in export earnings which resulted in a rise of $363.064 million in IT-related exports.
The Size of the ICT industry is expected to reach $20 billion by 2025, according to Pakistan Vision 2025 and the Digital Policy of Pakistan 2018. IT industry is rapidly evolving into a game-changer with a burgeoning startup ecosystem and a dynamic young population.
Powering this transformation is an annual influx of 20,000 IT graduates, a pool of 300,000 IT experts, and 5,000 ICT companies. The Industry recorded in 2021 alone, a remarkable $2 billion in IT exports. In Pakistan this sector is a dynamic ecosystem made up of businesses, experts, academics, and policymakers. Comparing Pakistan to Europe or North America, IT resources are accessible at a savings of about 70 per cent per year.
Pakistani IT firms are skilled in a range of IT services, including the creation of high-end, enterprise-grade software, systems integration, mobile apps, gaming, animation, consultancy, and BPO services including telemarketing, technical support, medical transcription, and invoicing.
Pakistan’s exports of information technology have increased by 137 per cent during the past 5 years. Various multinational corporations have developed global consulting services centres, research and development facilities, and BPO support services institutes in the country, including Global Enterprises like Bentley, Ciklum, IBM, Mentor Graphics, S&P Global, Symantec, Teradata, and VMware.
In Pakistan’s IT & ITeS sector there are various opportunities. The Expansion of Pakistan’s IT industry offers prospects for investors, including company mergers and acquisitions, IT startups, venture capital funds, IT parks, software development and research labs, technology incubators, gaming and animation studios, and data centers and BPO.
Our IT sector has a bright future, is packed with talent, and has the capability to become the state’s largest export business. Despite being one of the top outsourcing locations, country’s IT industry still faces various difficulties that hindered its development and keep it from reaching its full potential.
Because of the introduction of 3G and 4G networks in Pakistan during the last ten years, broadband penetration has increased significantly. Despite this, a major portion of the population is still without access to high-quality internet services.
The lack of finance for new technological ventures and innovative ideas are the other major issue for Pakistan’s IT industry is. In the country the venture capital industry is still in its developing stages, and there is a lack of institutional investment and assistance for entrepreneurs.
The abilities of recent IT graduates fall well short of what is needed by the sector. The country’s educational programme and ICT educational capabilities fall short of international norms. The IT sector requires graduates with the latest capabilities that are demanded through multinational clients, yet graduates are still being taught using outdated curriculum and technology.
In order to generate graduates who are more capable and skilled, all colleges should include current technologies into their curricula. Pakistan’s political instability has an impact on the expansion and development of the IT sector. Due to the frequent changes in government laws and regulations firms/companies find it challenging to plan long-term investments and plans. E-commerce on the other hand, plays a significant role in every nation’s IT sector, and in some, it serves as the industry’s mainstay.
Conclusion
The IT industry is critical to the economic transformation of Pakistan. The country is quickly becoming a desirable place for outsourcing and software development, thanks to its fast increasing IT industry. In the country a legislative framework has to be created in to avoid online fraud and foster confidence between online merchants and customers, which will progress e-commerce.
The government regulations, low-cost labour, strategic position, and abundant talent pool make it an appealing site for IT investment. The growth of Pakistan’s IT industry no doubt offers various prospects to both domestic and foreign investors. Nonetheless, difficulties like as poor internet quality, limited finance for new enterprises, and a skills deficit continue to be impediments for the business. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s IT sector has a promising future and has the potential to become the country’s largest export enterprise.