The Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) and Dr Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide exclusive discounts on a wide range of healthcare and diagnostic services to eligible members of the association. The agreement aims to improve access to affordable healthcare for Pakistan’s growing freelance community, which often lacks the medical benefits and health coverage commonly provided to employees in the formal corporate sector.
Farheen Fatima, Chief Growth & Strategy at PAFLA, and Hana Farhan Essa Abedin, Director at Dr Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre, signed the MoU.
Under the partnership, eligible PAFLA members will receive a 35% discount on routine laboratory tests, along with special discounts on specialised tests, diagnostic imaging, MRI and CT scans, ultrasound, physiotherapy, dentistry and a range of other healthcare services.
The initiative is part of PAFLA’s broader efforts to provide social protection, welfare benefits and facilitation opportunities to freelancers and digital workers across the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Farheen Fartima, Chief Growth and Strategy at PAFLA, said freelancing was emerging as an increasingly popular source of livelihood worldwide, particularly in Pakistan, where a growing number of talented and skilled individuals were adopting independent digital work.
She noted that despite their growing contribution to the economy, many freelancers lacked essential benefits, including healthcare and medical coverage, which are generally available to employees in organisations.
“Freelancers are an important part of Pakistan’s digital economy, but many of them do not have access to the social protection and healthcare benefits enjoyed by salaried employees. PAFLA is working to bridge this gap by building a support network that provides the freelance community with meaningful benefits and opportunities,” Farheen further said.
She added that the association is committed to improving freelancers’ welfare and quality of life by facilitating access to healthcare, financial services, professional development, and other support initiatives.
She urged freelancers across the country to become members of PAFLA and benefit from its growing range of services, partnerships and incentives, aimed at helping them achieve greater financial security and a better standard of living.
According to estimates, Pakistan has nearly 3 million full-time and part-time freelancers, making the country the fourth-largest freelancers’ population in the world. Freelancers in different fields earned $549 million in the first quarter of the current financial year 2026-27.