Pakistan Unveils Task Force to Accelerate IT Exports & Freelancer Growth

Govt Deploys Task Force to Facilitate IT Industry and Freelancers

Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunication is taking a significant step forward, establishing a dedicated task force focused on Industry Data Collection. This initiative aims to provide robust support and new opportunities for the nation’s IT companies and a rapidly growing community of freelancers, with the ultimate goal of dramatically boosting export income.

This newly formed task force is charged with a crucial mission, designed to unlock Pakistan’s digital potential:

* Precision Mapping: A first-of-its-kind effort to digitally map freelancers, remote workers, and software companies, tracking their credentials, earnings, export potential, and global presence. This comprehensive data will be vital for informed policy-making.
* Regulatory Streamlining: Establishing a dedicated Digital Economy Cell to streamline processes for marketing, international client outreach, and eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that have historically slowed Pakistan’s tech talent.
* Fair Taxation & Dollar Inflows: Creating a clear distinction between freelancers and remote workers to resolve existing tax ambiguities and actively incentivize the official inflow of foreign currency.
* Talent Upskilling: Launching initiatives for free training, establishing co-working hubs, providing mentorship, and offering zero-cost certifications to cultivate globally competitive digital professionals.
* Performance-Linked Incentives: Introducing new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to recognize and reward top exporters, propelling Pakistan higher in the global IT export rankings.

Beyond the task force’s core objectives, the Ministry is actively pursuing broader facilitation for the IT industry and freelancer community. This includes organizing marketing events for IT companies and freelancers both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, significant plans are underway to enhance the capacity of IT professionals and freelancers through free training, mentorship programs, workshops, laptop schemes, and the establishment of dedicated co-working hubs. In a direct incentive to boost official foreign currency inflows, IT companies and freelancers will also receive additional annual benefits, including free credits for officially reported earnings.

Ibrahim Amin, Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association, expressed strong optimism regarding these developments. “This task force will give Pakistan’s digital economy the radar it needs to navigate, scale, and lead globally,” he stated. He highlighted that despite Pakistan’s 2.37 million freelancers already contributing significantly to the global digital economy, the local tech industry has historically suffered from a lack of real data, structured policy, and aggressive enablement. Amin believes that with precise execution, “this data-powered revolution could double IT exports within 5 years, elevate Pakistan to the top 5 freelance markets globally, and inject billions of dollars into the national economy.”

This influential working group, formed under the direct guidance of the Prime Minister and chaired by the Federal Minister for IT & Telecom, brings together key stakeholders from both public and private sectors. Its esteemed members include:

* Jamil Ahmed, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan
* Rashid Mahmood Langrial, Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue
* Ibrahim Amin, Chairman, Pakistan Freelancers Association
* Zarrar Hasham Khan, Secretary, Ministry of IT & Telecom
* Abu Bakar, CEO, PSEB
* Asif Peer, CEO, Systems Ltd
* Adeel Aijaz Shaikh, CEO, IGNITE

Crucially, the working group has already put forth vital recommendations to the government. A top priority is addressing the widely-sought extension of the tax exemption for the IT industry and the freelancer community, which is set to expire next year. Additionally, they have urged the government to offer incentives for IT exporters and freelancers akin to those provided through Roshan Digital Accounts (RDA), aiming to further attract foreign exchange through official banking channels.

This concerted effort by the government signals a robust commitment to fostering a thriving digital economy in Pakistan, poised for significant global impact.