Digital economy could contribute up to 7% to GDP by 2030, new report says

Pakistan's digital economy has the potential to contribute 5–7% to GDP by 2030 if key structural bottlenecks are addressed and reforms accelerated, according to the OICCI Digital Report 2025, which underscores the sector's growing role as a driver of productivity, exports, and financial inclusion.

The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) on Wednesday launched its report presenting a comprehensive assessment of the country's digital ecosystem, policy gaps, and growth opportunities.

The report highlights strong momentum in Pakistan's digital adoption. IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) exports reached $3.8 billion, while the country's thriving freelance economy generated $779 million in earnings.

Pakistan now has more than 150 million broadband subscriptions and over 200 million telecom connections, with the mobile ecosystem contributing an estimated $17 billion to the national economy.

Despite this progress, the report points to significant infrastructure gaps that could slow growth. Only about 18% of cellular towers are connected through fiber, far below the global benchmark of around 40%, limiting network capacity and readiness for next-generation technologies.

OICCI President Yousaf Hussain said Pakistan has made notable strides in digital payments and financial inclusion.

"The Raast instant payment system processed PKR 18 trillion in peer-to-peer transactions in FY26, demonstrating the rapid adoption of digital financial services," he said, while referring to Pakistan's flagship peer-to-peer money transfer platform.

However, he added that infrastructure bottlenecks and regulatory delays continue to constrain the sector's full potential.

OICCI Secretary General M. Abdul Aleem noted that while policy dialogue on a digital future has progressed, implementation remains slow.

"Only about one-quarter of OICCI's digital policy recommendations issued in OICCI's Digital Report 2022 have been implemented so far. Faster execution, improved fiber penetration and a more investment-friendly regulatory environment will be essential to unlock Pakistan's digital potential," he said.

Recommendations

The OICCI report recommends lower taxes on broadband services and digital devices, accelerated fiber deployment, regulatory clarity in data protection and cybersecurity, and stronger public-private collaboration to position Pakistan as a competitive regional digital economy.