The IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) export remittances comprising computer services and call center services declined by 15 percent month-on-month (MoM) in July 2022 and remained $199 million compared to $235 million in June 2022, says State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
However, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the sector exports remittances increased by 1.5 percent compared to $196 million in July 2021.
ICT export remittances, including telecommunication, computer, and information services, reached an all-time high of $2.616 billion, a growth rate of 47.43 percent in FY2021-22 compared to $2.108 billion in FY2020-21.
Federal Minister Information Technology and Telecommunication, Syed Amin ul Haque, has stated that the IT exports target of $5 billion would be achieved by June 2023. He further said that the government is taking all possible steps to ensure a long-term IT industry growth trajectory and enhance IT industry exports to $5 billion by 2023.
The spokesperson of the ministry stated that more than 6,000 Pakistan-based IT companies were providing IT products and services to entities in over 100 countries. Strong incentives are being provided to the IT industry, and there are several projects intended to facilitate and assist the IT industry in its growth trajectory and to ensure continued upward momentum in local and export earnings, the spokesperson added.
Pakistan was ranked the 3rd most popular country for freelancing in the world, and Pakistani IT companies are providing products and services to the world’s largest companies, the official added.
The truth is working as freelancer and registration process is the real culprit. There is no logic behind registering freelancer at first place and i can bet. Second instead of promoting the IT based export govt imposed tax of 0.25 to 1 percent which might look very less but not for the freelancers. Majority of IT individuals don’t want to pay the tax due to many logical reasons. The export of services should be tax free to encourage people to get the green buck back to home country or people have many option to keep them abroad.