Pakistan IT services exports rose 97.34pc in last five years

ISLAMABAD (MEDIA)
The country’s Information Technology (IT) services exports had enhanced by 97.34 percent in the last five years, says a document of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications. According to the data presented in the National Assembly, the country plans to increase IT services exports by 271 percent in the next five years.
It said 25 percent growth ratio in IT services would be achieved in 2013-14, 28 percent growth in 2014-15, 30 percent in 2015-16, 32 percent in 2016-17, 35 percent in2016-17 and 35 percent IT services growth targets have been set for the financial year 2017-18. The country has set the targets of achieving US$ 3,774.285 million IT services exports in the next five years. In 2013-14 the IT services exports have been fixed at Rs 414.389 million, $ 530.418 million in 2014-15, $689.543 million in 2015-16, $ 910.197 million in 2016-17 and $ 1,229.738 million in 2017-18.
A total of 17 private enterprises of the country have achieved the targets of exceeding one million US dollars in IT services exports, the documentsaid quoting Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). Pakistan’s IT services exports were US$ 333.51 million with the growth rate of 21.07 percent in financial year 2012-13. In the financial year, 2011-12, the country’s exports grew by 16.35 percent, and remained US$ 273.814 million. The IT services growth were 14.93 percent, while total exports were US$ 235.334 million in the financial year 2010-11. Likewise, In 2009-10, the country’s IT services exports were US$ 204.763 million, a growth of 1.41 percent. In 2008-09, the country’s exports were US$ 201.903 million-thus having a growth ratio of 19.46 percent. Over 100 countries are procuring IT services from Pakistan.
The USA exporters 40 percent IT services from Pakistan. Other major exporters included United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), Netherlands, China, Bahrain, Singapore, Canada, Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Thiland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and South Korea.