Pakistan’s services exports grew by 22.60 per cent in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, reaching $2.72 billion in July-September, largely driven by higher earnings from information technology, according to official data.
Figures compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics put services exports at $2.72 billion for the quarter, up from $2.22 billion in the corresponding period last year. Imports of services rose 16.32 per cent to $3.55 billion, leaving the services trade deficit almost unchanged at $832 million.
Telecommunications, computer and information services remained the largest contributor, generating $1.25 billion during the quarter, up from $1.06 billion a year earlier — nearly 46 per cent of all services exports. Other business services rose to $622 million from $486 million, while travel services exports increased to $322 million from $157 million. September alone brought in $435 million in IT and telecom export receipts, a nine-month high, according to State Bank data cited by ProPakistani. Freelancers earned $549 million in the quarter, up 45 per cent from $377 million a year earlier.
The growth came even as September’s monthly picture weakened: services exports rose 15.35 per cent to $929.87 million in the month, but imports surged 26.38 per cent to $1.21 billion, widening the monthly deficit by 84.34 per cent to $282.76 million. The government has set a target of $10 billion in annual IT exports by FY29 under its Uraan Pakistan economic plan.
The figures arrived alongside signs of easing price pressures: inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index, slowed to 9.61 per cent year on year in October, down from 10.26 per cent in September, although it remained well above the 6.25 per cent recorded in October last year.
Sources: Dawn, ‘IT earnings drive 22.6pc growth in services exports’, 8 November 2026 — https://www.dawn.com/news/2042900/it-earnings-drive-226pc-growth-in-services-exports ; Profit (Pakistan Today), ‘Pakistan’s services exports rise 22.60% in first quarter’, 7 November 2026 — https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/11/07/pakistans-services-exports-rise-2260percent-to-dollar272-billion-in-first-quarter-of-fy27-trade-deficit-narrows-slightly ; The Express Tribune, ‘BoP swings to $4.39b deficit’, 17 October 2026 — https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635297/bop-swings-to-439b-deficit ; ProPakistani, ‘Pakistan IT Exports Hit 9-Month High’, 16 October 2026 — https://propakistani.pk/?p=1100689
