Pakistani Freelancers Earned $550 Million in 6 Months

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistani freelancers earned $557 million in foreign exchange in the first half of the fiscal year 2025-26, which is 58 percent more than the same period last year. Earlier, this income was recorded at $352 million.

According to the central bank’s released data, this income was mainly generated from IT and digital sectors, including software development, digital marketing, graphic designing, content creation and e-commerce. This trend shows that Pakistani digital talents are rapidly making their way in the global market.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that the government is taking steps such as digital infrastructure, cheap internet, easy digital payments and market-based training to facilitate freelancers and increase their role in the economy.

According to Ibrahim Amin, Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association, freelancers have surpassed many export sectors by earning $550 million in just 6 months and this income is expected to increase to over $1 billion by the end of the current fiscal year.

He said that after 2018, under the reforms of the government and the State Bank, freelancers were given facilities such as bringing income into the country through legal means, opening foreign currency accounts and keeping 50 percent of their income in dollars. According to him, only 0.25 percent tax is levied on registered freelancers.