Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) sector has a promising future with its talented youth and is poised to become the largest export industry of the country, according to the Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK. 

Based on this information, it is also important to mention that the average salary in the IT industry in Pakistan is estimated at around 378 USD/mo, making the country one of the most accessible and competitive in the region in terms of prices. 

Based on a report of the State Bank of Pakistan, the IT industry value is set to grow double in 2020, making a progress from $3,5 bn in 2019 to $7 bn. USD. 

Why working with Pakistan-based IT companies

Pakistan-based IT companies and web agencies are in the full development process and promoting their services mainly to foreign clients using the latest technologies. Even though Pakistan is probably the newest player in the IT sector in the region, it revealed it has huge capacities with a number of tech startups and new web agencies that continue to grow. In this way, there are more than 1500 IT companies in Pakistan with 10,000 professionals enrolling in the sector each year. 

What to be aware of when working with Pakistan-based IT companies

The relatively low number of IT companies in Pakistan is motivated by two factors: First, as mentioned previously is that the web agencies based in Pakistan are new in the region and are in full development and promotion process. The second reason is that professionals in the country are focused more on freelancing than entering a corporate environment and developing a digital business system - based on a report from the NY Times. 

Considering both indicators, it should be noted that the Pakistan-based companies don’t have rich experience on the market and thus, a developed-business culture which may be a challenge for potential foreign clients. 

How reliable are IT companies from Pakistan

The young and inexperienced behavior of Pakistan-based IT companies and web agencies is compensated by the high capacity and low prices on the market that they can provide. This makes Pakistan-based companies and web agencies, but as well as freelancers to have a balanced reputation on the global market, making the selection process easier for potential clients. 

How Pakistani IT Industry relates to the neighboring countries

Pakistan is trying to make its place in the global setup. Perhaps, this is the reason why the country’s freelancers offer rates 30% to 50% less than the ones offered in India. According to NASSCOM, India’s IT market size is $150 billion while Pakistan’s is just $3.5 billion. While India’s population is seven times higher, their investment in the startup's ratio is also 30 times greater. The ratio of the size of the economy is 1:10 while the market size of startups is 1:100.  This can be improved as Pakistan’s startups market can grow up to 5 times

The Global Competitiveness Index and Ease of Doing Business Index of Pakistan show that the country has some giant strides to make. India has 6 big IT companies and every company has at least a $10-billion revenue a year. Google, IBM, and Microsoft have their local office in India, promoting the country’s industry through research and development. On the other hand, Pakistan has not seen business tycoons venture into the IT industry. Pakistani businessmen love to invest in real estate and gold.

 

Node Js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to run JavaScript code on the server-side. Unlike traditional server-side technologies like PHP or Ruby, which are typically used for handling server tasks, Node.js enables developers to use JavaScript for both client-side and server-side development. Below we’ll dive deeper into the types of projects built with it, and how companies can leverage it for their projects:

Node.js is built on the V8 JavaScript engine from Google, making it incredibly fast and efficient. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, which makes it ideal for building scalable and real-time applications. Node.js is particularly well-suited for projects that require high concurrency, such as web applications, APIs, chat applications, streaming services, and more. It has a large and active community, which has led to a rich ecosystem of libraries and packages available via npm (Node Package Manager), simplifying development tasks.

As for the type of projects that can be built using Node.js, we can name the following:

1. Web Applications:  Many web applications are built using Node.js, often using web frameworks like Express.js. These applications can range from small personal websites to large-scale, enterprise-level platforms.
2. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces):  Node.js is commonly used to create RESTful APIs that allow different services or applications to communicate with each other. This is essential for building services that provide data to mobile apps, websites, and other clients.
3. Real-time Applications:  Node.js is favored for real-time applications, such as chat applications, online gaming, and collaborative tools. The event-driven architecture of Node.js is well-suited for handling multiple concurrent connections.
4. Streaming Services:  Media streaming platforms and services that deliver audio and video content use Node.js to efficiently manage and serve media files to users.
5. IoT (Internet of Things):  Node.js is used in IoT projects to handle data collection from sensors and devices, process that data, and communicate with cloud services.
6. Serverless Functions:  Node.js is a popular choice for building serverless functions or AWS Lambda functions due to its lightweight and quick startup times.

Node.js is a versatile technology that can be effectively utilized in both smaller and larger projects, but its suitability hinges on several key factors.

For smaller projects, Node.js offers distinct advantages. Its event-driven, non-blocking I/O model allows developers to rapidly prototype and develop applications. This makes it an excellent choice for creating functional prototypes, minimum viable products (MVPs), or simple web tools swiftly.

Node.js's efficiency in handling I/O operations can lead to responsive user experiences, which is valuable for small-scale applications like personal websites, blogs, or straightforward web tools. Moreover, Node.js itself is lightweight, making it suitable for projects with minimal hardware or resource requirements. It doesn't impose significant overhead, making it a cost-effective option.

Node.js is also well-suited for serving as a backend for Single-Page Applications (SPAs), handling API requests, and serving static files efficiently. Its ability to use JavaScript both on the server and client sides can reduce development costs by enabling code reuse and a single development skill set.

For larger projects, Node.js remains a compelling choice for various reasons. Its ability to handle a large number of concurrent connections positions it favorably for projects with high traffic and user loads. It's designed to scale efficiently, allowing it to distribute workloads across multiple servers or containers, making it scalable and robust.

In larger applications with complex functionality, Node.js can be employed to build microservices that communicate efficiently with each other. This modular approach enhances maintainability and facilitates development on a larger scale.

Node.js's event-driven nature also makes it an ideal candidate for larger projects requiring real-time features. It excels in managing multiple simultaneous connections, making it suitable for applications such as messaging platforms, online gaming, or collaborative tools.

Additionally, Node.js continues to offer development speed advantages regardless of project size, which can be particularly valuable in meeting tight project deadlines.

Furthermore, for larger projects with JavaScript as the primary language on both the frontend and backend, Node.js facilitates streamlined development processes, code sharing, and collaboration among teams working on different parts of the application.