ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s IT start-ups and freelancers said this week they continue to face crippling payment barriers and shrinking funding despite record export growth, warning that missing global payment platforms and complex banking processes are holding back one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.
Pakistan’s IT exports hit a historic $3.8 billion in FY 2024–25, up from $3.2 billion the previous year, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). The government hopes to raise the figure to $15 billion by 2030, but industry leaders say the absence of trusted payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe is slowing progress.
Tufail Ahmad Khan, President of the Global Freelancers Union, said Pakistan now ranks fourth globally in freelance talent but workers face significant hurdles in repatriating their earnings.
“Earning money is not the real problem. The problem is bringing it back to Pakistan,” he told Arab News. “Without PayPal or any major international payment system, freelancers have to pay hefty cuts and margins. Their income is being eaten up simply due to the lack of proper channels.”
Start-up founders report similar challenges.
