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.

Pakistani IT companies are aggressively exploring new and emerging tech markets particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as more than 100 firms providing IT and IT-enabled services are participating in LEAP 2025, one of the world’s major tech trade fairs, being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

More than 1,000 delegates from Pakistan are attending the conference, including businessmen, government officials, investors, exporters, and speakers, marking the highest-ever participation by Pakistan at LEAP in terms of both companies and visitors.

Pakistani IT firms are showcasing their latest solutions and services at LEAP 2025, engaging in strategic networking, and exploring joint ventures and investment opportunities in the Kingdom. State Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion at LEAP 2025. LEAP is an annual technology event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and investors to shape the future of technology and digital transformation.

Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA), Muhammad Umair Nizam, stated that Pakistani IT companies are attracting numerous foreign firms from various sectors at LEAP 2025. This has already resulted in multiple business deals being signed between Pakistani companies and international entities during the trade fair.
Pakistani IT companies witnessed a 100% increase in IT exports during the last financial year and are set to achieve another record this year, driven by new business deals at both public and private levels, he added.
He further mentioned that collaborative efforts by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Ministry of IT, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and P@SHA have created a favorable environment for IT companies to expand operations in the KSA market and across the GCC region.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) has established a help desk to assist Pakistani companies in registering their businesses in Saudi Arabia. This initiative has simplified the registration process, leading to the successful registration of over 100 Pakistani tech entities in the KSA market.
With its headquarters in Riyadh, Pakistan became a member of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) in 2024. Its Secretary General, H.E. Ms. Demaah AlYahya, also visited Pakistan last year during ITCN Asia 2024, held in Lahore and met with different IT companies in Pakistan.
Highlighting the significance of LEAP conferences and exhibitions, Saad Shah CEO Hexalyze and an exporter with operations in Saudi Arabia, noted that LEAP is the major platform to connect with the numerous multinational corporations, from both the private and public sectors, which are establishing operations in Saudi Arabia’s industrial zones and commercial sectors.
He also pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s increasing focus on AI, fintech, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and smart city solutions presents a lucrative market for Pakistani IT firms, which have already established a strong reputation in software development, enterprise solutions, and digital services.
With Saudi Arabia poised to become a regional technology powerhouse, LEAP 2025 serves as a gateway for Pakistani enterprises to expand their footprint across the Middle East and beyond, he added.
Pakistan’s IT exports recorded a significant increase, reaching $1.53 billion in the first half of the 2024-25 financial year. Projections indicate that this figure could surpass $4 billion by the end of FY25. Its exports to the KSA surged to $50 million last year.