Short answer: The Philippines has the larger, more mature outsourcing industry, especially for voice support. Pakistan is a strong option for UK companies, for US companies that want an evening-shift overlap, and for sales, technical and specialist roles. Many companies use both.
Time zones
Pakistan Standard Time is UTC+5. The Philippines is UTC+8. Neither observes daylight saving.
| Your 9 am start | Islamabad | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| London (BST) | 1:00 pm | 4:00 pm |
| New York (EDT) | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
| Los Angeles (PDT) | 9:00 pm | 12:00 am |
For UK companies, Pakistan overlaps most of the working day. For US companies, both countries work a night or evening shift, but Pakistan's starts 3 hours earlier.
English
English is an official language in both countries. The Philippines is known for neutral spoken accents, a big reason for its voice support strength. In Pakistan, English is the language of business, government and higher education, and written English is strong in professional roles.
Industry size and depth
The Philippine IT and business process management industry passed $40 billion in revenue in 2025, according to the industry group IBPAP. Pakistan's IT and IT-enabled services exports reached a record $4.6 billion in FY2025-26, up 20%, according to the State Bank of Pakistan.
Sources: IBPAP via Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan 2026; State Bank of Pakistan via ProPakistani, Jul 2026.
The gap is clear. The Philippines has more mature BPO infrastructure and more experienced managers in large contact centers. Pakistan's sector is smaller but growing fast, with depth in software, IT services and freelancing.
Roles each does well
| Role type | Pakistan | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Voice customer support | Good | Very strong |
| Virtual assistants and admin | Strong | Very strong |
| Sales development and research | Strong | Strong |
| Software and technical roles | Very strong | Good |
| Large contact centers (100+ seats) | Growing | Very strong |
Our view, based on our own hiring experience. Not a ranking.
Cost
Both countries cost a fraction of a local US or UK hire. Published benchmarks vary by role and model: full-time freelance VAs in the Philippines are often quoted at $600 to $1,400 per month, and managed VA services in the US market range from about $699 to $1,988 per month. Pakistan IT staff augmentation firms listed on Clutch mostly charge $25 to $49 per hour.
Sources: Stealth Agents 2026 rate survey; Wing Assistant and MyOutDesk published pricing; Clutch.
Compare like for like. A managed hire includes recruiting, payroll, HR and replacement support. A freelancer does not.
How to choose
- Choose the Philippines for large voice support teams and mature contact center operations.
- Choose Pakistan for UK overlap, US evening shifts, technical roles, sales development and specialist hires.
- Choose a partner who will tell you which fits your role, even if the answer is not them.
Konnex builds teams in Pakistan. See offshore teams and virtual assistants.
Quick answers
Is Pakistan or the Philippines better for offshore staffing?
It depends on the role. The Philippines leads for large voice support teams. Pakistan suits UK overlap, US evening shifts, technical and sales roles.
What is the time difference between Pakistan and the US?
Pakistan is UTC+5 with no daylight saving: 9 hours ahead of New York in summer and 10 in winter.