Pakistani Freelancers Earned $196.9 Million in September 2026, Up 48.8% on SBP Data
Pakistani freelancers earned $196.9 million in September 2026, up 48.8%, and $549 million in July to September, on State Bank data. See the split by type.
Pakistani freelancers brought in $196.9 million in September 2026, up 48.8% from $132.3 million in September 2025 and 11.4% more than August, according to the State Bank of Pakistan's latest trade in services table. For July to September, the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, freelance receipts reached $549.0 million, up 45.5%.
We read the State Bank's trade in services data after it was updated with September figures, and added up the two freelance lines ourselves. The headline number going around is "about $197 million". It is correct. But it is a sum of two separate lines, and the split tells you more than the total.
September 2026 freelance receipts were $196.9 million
The State Bank's table shows $120.6 million for freelance computer and information services and $76.3 million for other freelance services in September 2026. Together that is $196.9 million, the highest of the months in the table we read.
The State Bank counts freelancers in two places. Line 9.2.5 covers freelance computer and information services: coding, web work, data and similar jobs. Line 10.3.5 covers "other freelance services", which a footnote on the table says means freelancer receipts that are not computer services. That would take in non-coding work such as writing or design, though the table does not list the jobs.
| Line in SBP table | Sep 2025 | Aug 2026 | Sep 2026 | Change in a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2.5 Freelance computer and information services | $91.4m | $106.0m | $120.6m | +32.0% |
| 10.3.5 Other freelance services | $40.9m | $70.7m | $76.3m | +86.4% |
| Total freelance | $132.3m | $176.7m | $196.9m | +48.8% |
September is a provisional figure in the State Bank's trade in services PDF. The State Bank revises its numbers the next month, so a small change is normal. August was marked revised this time and did not move from the figure first published.
Non-computer freelance work grew faster than coding work
Other freelance services rose 86.4% in a year, from $40.9 million to $76.3 million. Computer freelance work rose 32.0%. So non-coding freelance work grew much faster, in percentage terms, than programming and other computer work did.
The gap is even wider over the quarter. Other freelance services more than doubled, from $104.4 million in July to September 2025 to $215.6 million this year. Computer freelance work rose 22.2%, from $272.8 million to $333.4 million.
We cannot tell from the table why. It gives totals, not reasons. One plain possibility is that more people now route their earnings through banks so the money shows up in the data, rather than earning more. The State Bank's sheet does not say either way, so we would not read too much into it.
The first quarter of 2026-27 reached $549 million
Freelance receipts for July to September 2026 were $549.0 million, against $377.3 million a year earlier. That is $171.7 million more, a rise of 45.5%. July was $175.4 million, August $176.7 million and September $196.9 million.
The wider category also grew. Telecommunications, computer and information services, which most people call IT exports, reached $434.4 million in September, up 17.9% in a year. For August's IT export figures, see the State Bank numbers in Pakistan's IT exports for August 2026.
Freelance money was about 21.2% of all services exports in September, by our arithmetic. That is $196.9 million out of $929.9 million.
Only money that arrives through banks is counted
The State Bank records what comes in through the banking system and is reported as freelance income. Money that sits abroad in a platform wallet, or arrives by an informal route, does not show up. So these figures are a floor, not a full count of what freelancers earn.
This is why the way you get paid matters for more than fees. Payments through a bank or a licensed channel build a record you can show for a visa, a loan or a tax return. The options for getting paid as a freelancer in Pakistan differ a lot in speed and cost, so check them before your next payout.
A few things to do if you freelance:
- Bring earnings home through a bank or licensed channel so they count as export income.
- Keep the bank's proceeds record for each payment you receive.
- Consider a freelancer digital account, which lets you keep part of your earnings in dollars.
- Check whether PSEB registration and the lower freelancer tax rate apply to you.
- File your return on time using the steps for freelancer income tax returns.
What these figures do not tell you
The table does not say how many freelancers there are, what each one earns, or which platforms the money comes from. It is a national total. It also does not split earnings by city or province, and it gives no reason for the jump.
Some reports call September a record month. The State Bank table we read covers only September 2025, August 2026, September 2026 and the two first quarters, and September 2026 is the highest of those. We did not check every earlier month, so we say "reported as a record" rather than state it ourselves.
Separate figures for the full year 2025-26 have also been quoted at very different sizes. They measure different things: some count only computer freelance work, others add both lines. That is why you should always check which line a number comes from before comparing it.
Common questions
How much did Pakistani freelancers earn in September 2026?
$196.9 million, on the State Bank's provisional data. That is $120.6 million for computer freelance work and $76.3 million for other freelance services.
How much did freelancers earn from July to September 2026?
$549.0 million, up 45.5% from $377.3 million in the same three months of 2025.
Is the September 2026 figure final?
No. It is marked provisional. The State Bank usually revises the latest month when it adds the next one.
Does this include money kept in Payoneer or PayPal?
No. Only money that comes into Pakistan through the banking system and is reported as freelance income is counted. Money left abroad is not in these numbers.
What are "other freelance services"?
The State Bank's footnote says line 10.3.5 shows freelancer receipts other than computer and information services. That covers non-coding work.
Do freelancers pay a lower tax rate in Pakistan?
Freelancers registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board can qualify for a lower rate. Check the conditions before you rely on it, and file a return either way.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 20 October 2026. We read the State Bank of Pakistan's trade in services table (BPM6, EBOPS 2010, amounts in thousand US dollars), linked from its economic data page, on 20 October 2026. It gives September 2025 (revised), August 2026 (revised), September 2026 (provisional) and July to September for both years. All totals, growth rates and shares are our own arithmetic from lines 9.2.5 and 10.3.5. We could not confirm the exact day the September figures were posted, and we did not check every earlier month, so the record claim is reported, not verified.
About the author
Founder and Editor
Umer Kureshi founded Pakistan Era in July 2024 and runs it as administrator, SEO lead and writer, overseeing website operations, search growth, content strategy and coverage of technology and current affairs.
