Pakistan’s digital economy has the potential to contribute between 5% and 7% to national GDP by 2030, provided structural challenges are addressed and reform efforts are accelerated, according to the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI).

The chamber released its flagship report, Recommendations for Pakistan’s Digital Future, offering a comprehensive review of the country’s digital landscape, identifying policy shortcomings, infrastructure gaps, and emerging growth opportunities.

The report noted that digital adoption in Pakistan continues to expand rapidly. Exports of IT and IT-enabled services have climbed to $3.8 billion, while the country’s freelance workforce generated approximately $779 million in earnings. Pakistan now hosts more than 150 million broadband users alongside over 200 million telecom connections, reflecting rising digital connectivity nationwide.

OICCI highlighted the growing economic importance of the telecom sector, estimating that the mobile ecosystem alone contributes nearly $17 billion annually to the economy. Digital payments are also gaining traction, with the Raast instant payment system processing Rs. 18 trillion in peer-to-peer transactions during FY26.

Despite strong progress, the report warned that critical infrastructure limitations continue to hinder growth. Only about 18% of cellular towers in Pakistan are connected through fibre networks, far below the global benchmark of roughly 40%.

To unlock the sector’s full potential, OICCI recommended reducing taxes on broadband services and digital devices, accelerating fibre network expansion, establishing clearer data protection and cybersecurity regulations, and strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The chamber emphasized that timely reforms could position Pakistan as a competitive digital economy in the region while driving investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.