IT earnings drive 22.6pc growth in services exports
• Proceeds reach $2.72 billion in July-September FY27, up from $2.22bn • Imports increase 16.32pc to $3.55bn • Trade deficit remains almost unchanged at $832m ISLAMABAD: Services exports recorded robust year-on-year growth of 22.60 per cent in the first quarter of 2026-27, largely driven by higher earnings from information technology. The continued expansion in services exports contrasts with…
In the first quarter of 2026-27, Pakistan's services exports grew by 22.60 percent year-on-year, propelled by increased revenues from the information technology sector. The services sector has sustained its upward trajectory since the beginning of the fiscal year, as reported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. In July-September 2026-27, services exports reached $2.72 billion, a notable increase from $2.22 billion in the same period last year.
September alone saw a 15.35 percent growth, with services exports reaching $929.87 million, up from $806.14 million in September 2025. The main contributors to this growth were telecommunication, computer, and information services.
Pakistan's services exports expanded by 18.81 percent to $10.04 billion in FY26, compared to $8.45 billion in the previous fiscal year. In rupee terms, services exports rose by 19.33 percent to Rs2.815 trillion in FY26, up from Rs2.359 trillion in FY25. The State Bank of Pakistan's data shows that exports of telecommunications, computer, and information services reached $1.246 billion in Q1 of FY27, a 17.7 percent increase from $1.059 billion in the corresponding period last year. In September 2026, these exports amounted to $435 million, up from $368 million in September 2025.
Exports of other business services grew by 27.98 percent to $622 million in Q1 of FY27, up from $486 million in the same period last year. Transport services exports increased by 9.66 percent to $295 million in Q1 of FY27, compared to $269 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile, services imports surged by 16.32 percent to $3.55 billion in Q1 of FY27, up from $3.05 billion in the corresponding period last year.
In September 2026, services imports grew by 26.38 percent to $1.21 billion, up from $959.53 million in September 2025.
Despite the increase in services imports, the services trade deficit narrowed slightly to $832.16 million in Q1 of FY27, down from $834.88 million in the same period last year. However, the deficit widened significantly to $282.76 million in September on a year-on-year basis.
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