ISLAMABAD: Pakistani firms and freelancers said this week they were eyeing fresh opportunities in the information technology sector, noting that the ongoing Middle East conflict, despite economic uncertainties, has driven the demand for cost-effective services higher.
The war in the Middle East involving the US, Israel and Iran has disrupted key energy shipping routes, driven global oil prices higher and created general economic uncertainty in the Gulf region. Sajjad Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), said that despite the broader economic slowdown in Gulf nations, demand for cybersecurity services in the region has surged.
Pakistan’s IT exports surged to a record $3.8 billion in the 2024–25 fiscal year, according to official data, with the momentum carrying into the current fiscal year. Exports rose 20 percent to $2.98 billion during the July–February FY2025-26 period compared with the same period last year.
Syed noted that the US and the Middle East together account for around 75 percent of Pakistan’s IT market, including software houses and freelancers. He said that while both regions face economic uncertainty, the impact on Pakistan’s IT industry, particularly larger firms, was “expected.” However, he said the downturn also presents another opportunity.
