ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistani freelancers earned a record $1.76 billion in export income in fiscal year 2025-26, which ended in June, the country’s finance adviser said on Sunday, underscoring the rapid growth of the country’s digital services sector in recent years._x000D_
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Pakistan has stepped up efforts in recent years to expand its digital economy by improving digital payment systems and offering skills development programs and incentives to its large pool of young, tech-savvy workers as it seeks to diversify sources of foreign exchange._x000D_
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The country’s freelancer export earnings rose 78 percent year on year (YoY) to reach $1.76 billion in FY26, according to Khurram Schehzad, an adviser to the finance minister. Freelancers earned $164 million alone in June, reflecting 69 percent increase year on year._x000D_
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In a post on X, Schehzad said Pakistan’s freelancers are now emerging as a major source of foreign exchange earnings, high-value employment, innovation, and export diversification._x000D_
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“This remarkable performance reflects the strength of Pakistan’s digital talent, entrepreneurial spirit, and growing integration into the global digital economy,†he said._x000D_
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Pakistan ranks 16 out of 193 countries in terms of labor cost, English proficiency, talent availability, digital infrastructure and stability, according to the 2026 Global Outsourcing Talent Index by Ataraxis._x000D_
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Based on an estimated 2.5–3 million freelancers, Pakistan’s average per capita freelancer earning has increased from around $12 per month in 2021 to nearly $53 a month in 2026, according to Schehzad._x000D_
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It reflects a growth of 4.4 times over the last five years.
