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Federal minister Ahsan Iqbal says AI and IT freelancers can steer Pakistan toward export-led growth, urging public‑private collaboration to make “Made in Pakistan” a global quality brand.
Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal urged Pakistan to lean on artificial intelligence and IT exports as the country’s economic lifeline, telling a Lahore audience that talent not factories will fuel growth. He spoke Saturday at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 3rd IT Freelancing Awards, held to celebrate rising freelance talent.
“I would call freelancers and IT professionals the pilots of the future economy,” Ahsan Iqbal said, highlighting freelancers’ role in earning vital foreign exchange. He warned that without stronger export performance, Pakistan will remain dependent on external financial support despite large remittances from overseas Pakistanis.
Addressing the tech community, the minister argued that success in IT doesn’t require heavy investment but hinges on innovation and skills. He contrasted Pakistan’s export performance with regional peers, noting how countries such as Vietnam outpaced Pakistan by converting talent into much larger export volumes.
LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol echoed the push for a knowledge-driven economy, saying the government’s focus on digital growth aligns with the chamber’s “Uraan Pakistan” vision. Saigol welcomed policy attention to the IT sector and urged deeper public‑private collaboration to boost exports and global recognition for “Made in Pakistan.”
Officials at the ceremony said the freelancing ecosystem has expanded rapidly since 2018, with nearly half of earlier award winners now running software houses. The awards recognised freelancers from diverse fields; event attendees included Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja Ur Rehman and senior LCCI leaders.
Ahsan Iqbal also pledged to take the business community’s recommendations to the prime minister and called on all sectors to adopt AI and IT technologies to prepare for a technology-driven global economy. He framed export growth as central to economic independence and urged stakeholders to treat quality and innovation as national priorities.
The minister’s comments come as Pakistan seeks new export avenues amid fiscal pressures. Industry leaders at the event said targeted policies, incentives and skills development could convert the country’s freelancing momentum into measurable export gains and higher international competitiveness.
