Govt, internet companies urged to provide speedy internet services: PAFLA

Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) urged the government and internet service providers to ensure uninterrupted and high-speed internet services across Pakistan to support the digitally-connected economy, including freelancers and gig economy workers nationwide.

PAFLA Chairman Ibrahim Amin stated that persistent internet slowdowns are adversely affecting the productivity of freelancers and online workers with a significant contribution to the economy such as bringing in foreign exchange and helping reduce unemployment in the country.

He highlighted that slow and interrupted internet connectivity, combined with frequent electricity outages, has significantly worsened working conditions for freelancers. As a result, many struggle to meet project deadlines, which can negatively impact their platform rankings and damage their professional credibility.

Amin also pointed out that thousands of workers as part of the gig economy, including ride-hailing drivers and food delivery personnel, are facing similar challenges due to slow internet connectivity, which directly impacts their earnings and revenue streams of their respective sectors.

It is pertinent to mention here that a major internet service provider has announced a maintenance activity of its submarine cable for a nearly a week, which affected the overall internet speed and service quality across the country.

To address these issues, he suggested that the government introduce satellite-based internet solutions as an alternative, ensuring reliable connectivity and minimizing disruptions caused by submarine cable faults.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pakistan is home to over 2.37 million freelancers, ranking among the top countries globally in terms of freelance workforce size. State Bank of Pakistan’s data reported that Pakistan earned over $800 million in foreign exchange through freelancer of IT and IT-related services despite challenges of slow internet and electricity loadshedding.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals trained by public sector initiatives and non-governmental organizations are entering the freelancing market each month, boosting the country’s foreign exchange earnings. In this regard, the role of institutions is crucial in development of freelancing ecosystem in the country, including Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Pakistan Software Export Board, and the Special Investment Facilitation Council in developing a supportive ecosystem for freelancers, he said.

The PAFLA chairman expressed optimism that the rollout of 5G technology will significantly improve internet speeds in near future, enhancing the productivity of freelancers, content creators, and other online professionals across the country.