The Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), a representative body for freelancers across the country, urgently called on the relevant authorities to resolve the ongoing internet issues and restore services to full capacity.
PAFLA President & CEO, Tufail Ahmed Khan, highlighted the severe challenges freelancers have faced over the past three weeks due to slow internet speeds and frequent disruptions.
“These challenges have hindered their ability to meet project deadlines, onboard new clients, and secure future business, resulting in significant revenue losses,” Khan stated.
The CEO warned that if these issues persist, online freelancing platforms might downgrade Pakistan’s standing, which would further harm the industry.
Khan emphasized the importance of the freelancing sector, noting, “Pakistan is the fourth-largest freelancing industry globally, with over 2.3 million full-time and part-time freelancers.”
He also pointed out that in addition to full-time freelancers, thousands of students rely on freelancing to fund their higher education, and many educated housewives take on freelance projects to support their families in these inflationary times.
The association stressed that a stable and secure internet connection is essential for freelancers to efficiently deliver their work and continue contributing to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
The Economic Survey of Pakistan revealed that Pakistani freelancers generated $350 million in fiscal 2023-24, marking a 40% year-on-year increase. “This underscores the industry’s rapid growth, potential, and importance to the national economy,” Khan added.
P@SHA warns of $300 million economic loss
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has warned that the ongoing internet disruptions could cost the Pakistan economy as much as $300 million.
Criticizing the government’s lack of consultation and its unforthcoming attitude toward resolving the issue, P@SHA Senior Vice Chairman Ali Ihsan warned: “These disruptions are not mere inconveniences; they are a direct, tangible, and aggressive assault on the industry’s viability, inflicting an estimated and devastating financial loss of $300 million, which could further increase exponentially.”
Ihsan also noted that P@SHA was not consulted regarding the implementation of the firewall, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the industry.
“We want to work with them [government]. What such need arose that we have been thrown out of the loop?,” Ihsan said.