Recently, the Pakistani freelancing industry has expressed concerns over ongoing internet disruptions and government firewall issues, which are severely impacting their work.
Many freelancers call for these interruptions to end to ensure the sustainability of their businesses.
Freelancers Association
According to a news report, the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), a representative body of freelancers nationwide, asked relevant authorities to address the prevailing internet issues and immediately restore services to full capacity.
Pakistan Freelancers Association President Tufail Ahmed Khan said that freelancers have been experiencing slow internet speeds and frequent disruptions for the past three weeks.
He added that these difficulties hindered our ability to meet project deadlines, onboard new clients, and secure future business, resulting in significant revenue losses.
The CEO of the Pakistan Freelancers Association said Pakistan has the fourth-largest freelancing industry globally, with over 2.3 million full-time and part-time freelancers. If these issues continue, online freelancing platforms may downgrade our standing, further damaging the industry.
The Pakistan Freelancers Association maintained that thousands of students rely on freelancing to fund their higher education in addition to full-time freelancers.
Tufail Ahmed Khan said that in current inflationary times, many educated housewives also take on freelance work to support their families.
Impact on Pakistan’s economy
The Pakistan Freelancers Association president said that according to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, the country’s freelancers generated US$350 million in FY 2023-24, marking a 40% year-on-year increase. This underscores the industry’s rapid growth, potential, and value to the national economy, Tufail Ahmed Khan added.
Impact on Pakistani Freelancers
The slow internet speed in Pakistan directly impacts the productivity and efficiency of Pakistani freelancers. Frequent internet outages and slow loading times can disrupt workflows, leading to delays in project completion and potential penalties from clients. This can negatively affect the freelancers’ earnings and reputation.
Moreover, the slow internet makes it difficult for Pakistani freelancers to compete with freelancers from other countries with faster and more reliable internet connections.
Clients may opt to work with freelancers from regions with better internet infrastructure, losing business opportunities for Pakistani freelancers.
Fiverr’s Reputation
Fiverr, a popular freelancing platform, has a significant presence in Pakistan. Pakistan’s slow internet can negatively impact the perception of Pakistani freelancers on Fiver. Clients may hesitate to hire Pakistani freelancers due to concerns about their ability to deliver projects on time and with high quality.
Final Words
Slow internet is more than just an inconvenience; it’s a major barrier to the growth of the freelance industry, which contributes significantly to Pakistan’s economy.
For Pakistani freelancers, the consequences of slow internet are immediate and far-reaching, affecting their productivity, income, and reputation.
It is imperative that the government swiftly address this issue, ensuring that freelancers can continue to contribute to the global digital economy without hindrance.