Pakistan’s digital sector has the potential to add 5–7 percent to GDP by 2030, if skill-based literacy, consistent national policies, and a strong regulatory framework are ensured, according to the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) Digital Report 2025.
Launched on Wednesday as ‘Recommendations for Pakistan’s Digital Future’, the report highlights rapid growth in the country’s digital ecosystem, while flagging gaps that could slow progress.
Key highlights include: IT and IT-enabled services exports of $3.8 billion, freelance earnings of $779 million, over 150 million broadband subscriptions, and more than 200 million telecom connections. The mobile ecosystem alone contributes an estimated $17 billion to the national economy.
However, infrastructure shortcomings remain a bottleneck. Only 18 percent of cellular towers are fibre-connected, far below the global benchmark of 40 percent, limiting capacity for next-generation technologies.
OICCI President Yousaf Hussain noted rapid adoption in digital finance, citing the Raast instant payment system, which processed Rs18 trillion in peer-to-peer transactions in FY26. He stressed, however, that regulatory delays and infrastructure constraints continue to restrict the sector’s full potential.
OICCI Secretary General M Abdul Aleem said only about one-quarter of the recommendations from the 2022 report have been implemented. He emphasized the need for accelerated fibre deployment, clearer digital regulations, lower taxes on broadband and devices, and stronger public-private collaboration to unlock Pakistan’s digital growth.
The report underscores the sector’s role as a driver of productivity, exports, and financial inclusion, urging faster execution to position Pakistan as a competitive regional digital economy.
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