Pakistani freelancers’ earnings jump by 50% to Rs240 billion

Pakistani freelancers’ earnings jump by 50% to Rs240 billion - Here’s how!

Freelancers earnings reach Rs239.68 billion in Pakistan. File photo

April, 20 2026

(Web Desk): Pakistani freelancers’ earnings reached Rs239.68 billion by third quarter of FY2025 against Rs158.76 billion, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said.

Freelancers’ foreign exchange earnings from international clients have grown by more than 50 percent in just one year.

Pakistani freelancers’ earning growth shows strong growth in Pakistan’s digital economy. Freelancers are rapidly expanding their presence in the global market. This sharp rise highlights increasing global demand for local IT services.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), freelancers earned Rs239.68 billion compared to Rs158.76 billion in the same period last year. This shows a clear increase of Rs80.92 billion in earnings.

Pakistan Freelancers Association chairman Ibrahim Amin said thousands of new freelancers are entering the market every month. Many of them are trained through government and private sector programs.

He said institutions like the Ministry of IT, Pakistan Software Export Board, and Special Investment Facilitation Council are supporting freelancers. These efforts are helping build a strong digital ecosystem in the country.

However, he warned that slow internet is becoming a serious problem for freelancers. It is affecting their productivity and ability to deliver work on time.

Amin said unreliable internet and electricity outages are making work difficult. Many freelancers are struggling to meet deadlines, which can damage their professional reputation.

According to the Asian Development Bank, Pakistan has over 2.37 million freelancers. This makes it one of the top countries in the world in terms of freelance workforce.

He added that poor internet connectivity is also causing income losses for gig workers. Many digital sectors are being affected by these issues.

Recently, a major internet provider carried out maintenance on a submarine cable for nearly a week. This caused slow speeds and disrupted services across the country.

Amin suggested introducing satellite-based internet to solve these problems. He said this can provide more stable and reliable connectivity.

He also expressed hope that 5G technology will improve internet speed in the future. This could boost productivity for freelancers and online workers across Pakistan.

Pakistan’s freelancing growth is strong but fragile. Without better internet and electricity, this progress can slow down quickly.