The total number of IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) companies registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) stands at 20,711, according to the Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja. These companies are distributed across the country with Punjab leading at 10,745 registered entities, followed by Sindh with 6,352. The federal area accounts for 3,264 companies, while the remaining provinces and regions have significantly fewer registered companies.
According to the Minister, the PSEB, a guarantee limited company under the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication, aims to promote ICT industry exports and ensure the sustainable growth of Pakistan’s IT sector. It offers a range of programs and projects developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders. Registration with PSEB, which is voluntary for most IT companies except call centers, provides benefits such as paid internships, certification for ICT professionals, and subsidized participation in international events.
IT companies registered with PSEB enjoy a reduced tax rate of 0.25% on export income, compared to 1% for those not registered. Despite this incentive, registration and renewal remain optional, and companies can legally operate without PSEB registration. The Minister clarified that PSEB functions as a service provider rather than a regulatory authority, emphasizing its role in supporting industry growth rather than enforcing compliance.
The Minister further states that the IT industry in Pakistan is marked by rapid technological innovation and dynamic market changes. Continuous growth in IT exports attracts entrepreneurs who register their companies to tap into emerging opportunities. This environment leads to a regular influx and exit of IT firms, reflecting the sector’s competitive and evolving nature.
Provincial registration figures reveal minimal presence in regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (243 companies), Balochistan (43), Gilgit-Baltistan (35), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (29). This highlights an uneven geographical distribution of IT industry development, with major concentrations in Punjab and Sindh. The data underscores the need for focused regional strategies to stimulate IT growth in less represented areas.
