Since July 22, quite a few unauthorised trade retailers have been closed after the army intelligence company summoned foreign money sellers to handle the rising greenback fee within the open market. picture: file
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD:
Pakistani freelancers earned $557 million in overseas trade throughout the first half of the present monetary yr 2025-26, underscoring their rising position in strengthening the nation’s providers exports and exterior accounts, in accordance with official information launched on Monday.
Figures issued by the State Financial institution of Pakistan present that export receipts from laptop and data providers supplied by freelancers rose sharply throughout July to December 2026, in contrast with $352 million earned in the identical interval of the earlier monetary yr. The rise represents a 58% year-on-year progress.
The information displays increasing international demand for Pakistan’s freelance workforce throughout areas comparable to software program improvement, digital advertising, graphic design, content material creation and e-commerce. Officers say each private and non-private sector initiatives aimed toward facilitation and coaching have contributed to a extra supportive atmosphere for freelancers and the broader gig financial system.
Federal Minister for Info Expertise and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated the federal government was implementing a number of measures to reinforce the contribution of freelancers to the financial system. She stated efforts had been underneath approach to enhance digital infrastructure, broaden inexpensive broadband entry, simplify digital fee mechanisms and introduce focused capacity-building programmes.
She added that coverage reforms and partnerships with the personal sector had been being aligned to assist freelancers combine into the formal financial system and contribute extra successfully to nationwide exports. Below current preparations, freelancers are allowed to take care of overseas trade accounts and retain as much as 50% of their revenue in {dollars}. These registered with the Pakistan Software program Export Board pay a decreased tax fee of 0.25%.
Based on an Asian Growth Financial institution report, Pakistan’s freelancer group includes an estimated 2.37 million full-time and part-time staff, with Pakistan rating among the many prime three or 4 nations on a number of international freelancing platforms.
Pakistan Freelancers Affiliation Chairman Ibrahim Amin stated freelancers had emerged as a key supply of overseas trade and employment era, notably for younger folks. He stated their earnings helped cut back unemployment whereas selling entrepreneurship throughout the nation.
Amin careworn the necessity for stronger collaboration between authorities, academia and {industry} to maintain progress within the sector. He stated establishments and non-governmental organisations ought to broaden structured coaching programmes, talent certification and industry-relevant curricula to equip youth with in-demand digital abilities.
