ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s freelancers generated a record $1.76 billion in export earnings during fiscal year 2025-26, marking a 78% year-on-year increase and underscoring the country’s growing role in the global digital economy, Finance Minister’s Advisor Khurram Schehzad said on Sunday.
In a post on X, Schehzad said freelancers earned $164 million in June 2026 alone, up 69% from the same month a year earlier. He described the performance as evidence of Pakistan’s expanding digital talent base, entrepreneurial strength and increasing integration into international markets.
According to figures shared by the advisor, freelancer export earnings have risen more than fourfold over the past five years, increasing from $396 million in FY2021 to $1.758 billion in FY2026. Earnings stood at $397 million in FY2022, $364 million in FY2023, $505 million in FY2024 and $985 million in FY2025.
Schehzad said freelancer exports had grown by 212% over the past three years, calling the increase a major milestone for Pakistan’s digital economy.
🇵🇰 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 — 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 $𝟭.𝟳𝟲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 (𝟰.𝟰× 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝟱 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀)
▪️ $1.76 Bn freelancer export earnings in FY26 (+78% YoY)
▪️ $164 Mn earned in latest month,… pic.twitter.com/2svUycZjLF— Khurram Schehzad (@kschehzad) July 19, 2026
Foreign exchange contribution
The advisor said Pakistan’s freelancers were emerging as a major source of foreign exchange earnings, high-value employment, innovation and export diversification.
Based on an estimated 2.5 to 3 million freelancers, average monthly earnings per freelancer increased from more than $12 in 2021 to over $53 in 2026, representing a 4.4-fold increase over the five-year period, according to the figures shared.
Pakistan’s global rankings
Schehzad also highlighted Pakistan’s performance in global digital talent rankings, saying the country ranked 16th among 193 countries, placing it in the top 9% globally and ahead of several major economies, including China and Vietnam.
He added that Pakistan achieved a talent score of 80 out of 100, ranking eighth globally and ahead of all European Union, Middle Eastern and African countries included in the index cited in his post.
Looking ahead, Schehzad said sustained policy support would be essential to maintain the sector’s momentum.
He identified digital skills development, simplified cross-border payment mechanisms, a stable and competitive tax framework, expansion of high-speed broadband and 5G services, and stronger international branding through the “Tech Destination Pakistan” initiative as key priorities.
“Pakistan’s future exports will increasingly be powered not only by goods, but by talent, technology and ideas,” Schehzad said.
