The Computer Market – Great Potential to Invest:
The 4th Industrial Revolution is currently taking place and it is digital. Pakistan, which has about 60% of its 220 million population in the 15 to 29 age group, represents an enormous human and knowledge capital. Pakistan has more than 2000 IT companies & call centers and the number is growing every year. Pakistan has more than 300,000 English speaking IT professionals with expertise in current and emerging IT products and technologies, 13 Software technology parks, More than 20,000 IT graduates and engineers are being produced each year coupled with a rising startup culture. Pakistan Market
The primary users of Computers:
There are more than 3,000 IT and IT-enabled companies, employing over 100,000 qualified IT professionals in Pakistan. Software development, including specialized application development has emerged as a major business sub-sector during the last several years. According to the latest statistics, there are approximately 25,000 qualified professionals associated with this sub-sector and this number is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3-4 percent in the coming years. The primary users of computers and peripherals in Pakistan are:
| Private businesses | Outsourcers (BPOs) |
| IT services companies | Internet service providers |
| Software development houses | Public and private sector incubation centers |
| Call centers | Educational institutions, and private users |
| Business Process |
Market Overview |
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021* (Estimated) |
| Total Local Production | 1.82 | 1.75 | 1 | 1.2 |
| Total Exports | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Imports | 454.27 | 431.55 | 395.73 | 414.78 |
| Imports from the US | 57.2 | 53.2 | 46.55 | 48.17 |
| Total Market Size | 456.1 | 433.3 | 396.73 | 415.98 |
| Exchange Rates | 124.5 | 152.34 | 158.82 | 159.02 |
Source (US$ Million)
Using International Trade Centre’s trade map for product-level figures, we studied the underlying trends for HS code 847130, defined as data-processing machines, automatic, portable, weighing less than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display (excluding peripheral units).
Under this category, Pakistan spent $181.6 million on 1.52m units in 2019-20 at an average price of $119.36.
While the number of imported units jumped by 462,601 over 2018-19, there was a marked decline in both the total bill and the average price, which fell from $226m and $213, respectively. In percentage terms, this reflects plunges of 19.6 per cent and 43.96pc, respectively.
That suggests a move towards cheaper and lower quality machines, which could possibly be a cause of concern. Even in the units imported, the increase doesn’t really appear to have been triggered by Covid-19 as Pakistan was buying in higher quantities before March 2020.
Read More
Manufacturing E-Commerce in Pakistan – Trends & Opportunities
Circular Economy of Pakistan – Where it will go
Digitization of Economy – Step to Formal Economy
Resources
Ministry of Information Technology Ministry of Economic Affairs, Economic Affairs Division
Pakistan Software Export Board