{
  "id": 1413373,
  "title": "The next phase of IT industry growth requires more than producing software developers, freelancers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/the-next-phase-of-it-industry-growth-requires-more-than-producing",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-17T03:27:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn Business",
    "slug": "dawn-business",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2023396/the-next-phase-of-it-industry-growth-requires-more-than-producing-software-developers-freelancers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan's IT services sector has seen impressive growth in recent years, nearly doubling its exports from $1.67bn to $3.24bn in five years, according to a new study by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC). The sector contributes significantly to the country's economy, accounting for 45% of total services exports and generating a $2.4bn trade surplus. However, the report warns that this impressive growth may be resting on a fragile foundation, with a concerning trend of commoditisation and increasing exposure to artificial intelligence (AI). Freelance transactions, which make up the majority of recorded IT exports, have seen their median value fall by 41% between 2021 and 2025, indicating a shift towards lower-value transactions. The report emphasizes that Pakistan's IT industry needs to move beyond simply producing software developers and freelancers to sustain its growth momentum. Industry experts argue that the next phase of growth requires building infrastructure, developing skills, securing finance, and establishing institutional capacity. China-Pakistan cooperation, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence, could be instrumental in this transition. The country's decision to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (Waico), a China-led intergovernmental initiative, presents an opportunity for Pakistan to engage in infrastructure development, technology transfer, skills development, and access to international markets. Key areas for development include building data centres, establishing computing capacity for AI, and developing a skilled workforce. By leveraging China's expertise in these areas, Pakistan can transform its IT sector into a major export industry, tapping into regional and global markets.",
  "summary": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2023255",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}