# Pakistani freelancers earn a record $197 million in September 2026, about Rs 54.5 billion

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/economy/pakistani-freelancers-earn-a-record-dollar197-million-in-september-2026-about-rs)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 18 Oct 2026
Updated: 18 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 18 Oct 2026

> The best month on record takes first-quarter freelance earnings to about $550 million, up 46% on last year, as IT exports also hit $435 million.

Pakistani freelancers earned **$197 million in September 2026**, the highest monthly amount in the country's history, Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said, [ProPakistani reported](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/18/freelancers-set-new-monthly-earnings-record/) on Sunday 18 October. At today's interbank rate of about Rs 276.91 to the dollar, that is roughly **Rs 54.5 billion** in one month.

September was 11% above August and 49% above September 2025. It lifts freelance earnings for the first quarter of FY2026-27 (July to September) to about **$550 million**, 46% more than the same three months last year.

## The numbers so far this year

| Period | Freelance earnings | In rupees (Rs 276.91/$) |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $175.44 million | about Rs 48.6 billion |
| July-August 2026 | $352 million | about Rs 97.5 billion |
| September 2026 | $197 million (record) | about Rs 54.5 billion |
| July-September 2026 | about $550 million | about Rs 152.3 billion |
| Whole of FY2025-26 | $1.76 billion | about Rs 487 billion |

July and July-August are State Bank of Pakistan figures we [reported in September](/news/economy/pakistani-freelancers-earn-dollar352-million-in-july-august-2026-up-44percent-ye). The rupee figures are our own conversion at today's rate, not official numbers.

Going by the stated growth rates, September 2025 was about $132 million and the first quarter of last year about $377 million. Those are our calculations from the percentages, not separately published figures.

## IT exports close behind

The same release put **IT exports at $435 million in September**, their second-highest month on record. Schehzad said the freelance economy is turning young digital talent into exports and non-debt foreign exchange. Both flows come in through banks, so they count towards the current account and support the rupee.

## Why more people are freelancing

Ibrahim Amin, chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), said more Pakistani digital workers are joining the global market, and linked it to the shortage of jobs at home for IT graduates and professionals. He said freelance income now supports many families and called for more spending on training and support for freelancers.

## If you freelance: three things to do

- **Get paid through a bank or a licensed payment channel.** Only recorded export proceeds show up in these numbers, and the record is what proves your foreign income when you file a return.
- **Work out your tax.** Check what you owe on foreign earnings with our [freelancer tax calculator](/tools/tax/freelancer-tax-calculator) and the general [income tax calculator](/tools/tax/income-tax-calculator).
- **Watch the dollar.** Your rupee income moves with the rate, which is on our [USD to PKR page](/data/usd-pkr); convert any amount with the [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter).

Starting out? Our guide to [earning money online in Pakistan](/guides/banking/earn-money-online-in-pakistan-real-ways-that-pay-in-rupees) lists platforms that pay in rupees.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much did Pakistani freelancers earn in September 2026?**

A record $197 million, about Rs 54.5 billion at Rs 276.91 per dollar, according to Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad.

**How much have freelancers earned in FY2026-27 so far?**

About $550 million in July to September 2026, up 46% on the same quarter last year.

## Sources

- Freelancers Set New Monthly Earnings Record (18 Oct 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/18/freelancers-set-new-monthly-earnings-record/
- Pakistani Freelancers Earn $352 Million In First 2 Months of FY2026-27 (17 Sep 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/17/pakistani-freelancers-earn-352-million-in-first-2-months-of-fy2026-27/
- Pakistan freelancers' earnings surge 45% YoY in July (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40435595/pakistan-freelancers-earnings-surge-45-yoy-in-july

How to cite: "Pakistani freelancers earn a record $197 million in September 2026, about Rs 54.5 billion", Searchable, 18 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/economy/pakistani-freelancers-earn-a-record-dollar197-million-in-september-2026-about-rs