ISLAMABAD, AUGUST 19: The nation’s national organization for independent contractors, the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), has urged the appropriate authorities to solve the current internet problems and move quickly to get services back up and running.
It is essential for independent contractors to have a steady and secure internet connection in order to do their work without interruption and keep adding to the nation’s foreign exchange reserves. Tufail Ahmed Khan, President and CEO of PAFLA, brought attention to the fact that throughout the previous three weeks, freelancers have been dealing with sluggish internet speeds and frequent disruptions.
They have lost a lot of money as a result of these difficulties in meeting project deadlines, onboarding new clients, and securing future business.
Khan said that there are over 2.3 million full- and part-time freelancers in Pakistan, making it the country with the fourth-largest freelancing market in the world.
“Online freelancing platforms may lower our standing if these problems continue, further harming the industry.”
In addition to full-time freelancers, many of students depend on freelancing to pay for their college education, and in these days of inflation, many educated housewives take up freelance work to provide for their families.
The Economic Survey of Pakistan states that $350 million was made by Pakistani freelancers in FY 2023–2024—a 40% increase over the previous year. Khan continued, “This highlights the industry’s rapid growth, potential, and importance to the national economy.”
Ibrahim Amin, Co-Founder & Chairman of PAFLA, stated that most Pakistani freelancers have struggled to obtain employment in the public and private sectors and have worked hard to support themselves and their families. Regretfully, they are once more experiencing difficulties as a result of recent disruptions and problems with internet speed. Additionally, he said that PAFLA hosts a number of weekly seminars for freelancers in big cities and smaller towns, working with partner universities and educational institutions to bring in a sizable, driven, and aspirational audience.
But they are depressed because of the continuous interruption. Amin pleaded with the authorities to give this problem top priority and move quickly to bring back full internet access.
For independent contractors to maintain their employment and provide for their families, a reliable and secure internet connection is essential. He stressed that the current state of affairs not only jeopardizes the standing of Pakistani independent contractors but also presents serious threats to the overall economy.
