Stakeholders anticipate that Pakistan’s freelancing community can increase its annual earnings to exceed $1 billion in the next financial year, driven by growing training opportunities, sustained institutional support, and the development of a digital ecosystem.
At the “AI Beyond Border Summit 2025” held at the 26th ITCN Asia Karachi on Thursday, they highlighted that the freelancers’ community is well-positioned to unlock new opportunities, attract global clients, and cement its place as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s digital economy due to coordinated efforts from industry, government, and financial institutions.
Freelancers are key players in Pakistan’s digital economy, bringing valuable foreign exchange, establishing global trust in Pakistani talent, and creating opportunities for themselves, fellow youngsters, and women, said Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers’ Association (PAFLA) Ibrahim Amin.
Pakistan’s freelancing community is on the verge of a major milestone, with earnings expected to exceed $1 billion annually, and the number of freelancers increasing from 2.3 million to beyond in the coming months, he added.
The country’s young, tech-savvy freelancers are driving digital growth, supported by initiatives from PAFLA, Innovista, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and 1Link, which are key steps forward in nurturing an evolving ecosystem that connects talent with innovation, fueling the country’s digital transformation, he said.
Speaking as a keynote speaker, Tahir Malik, Project Director at Innovista Indus, said Innovista is working to enhance facilitation for entrepreneurship among freelancers nationwide through various training programs, mentorship, and assistance with tax-related issues.
Innovista launched the National Agentic AI Hackathon to invite 1000 participants from six cities. Our mission is to make freelancing a competitive and sustainable way of earning foreign exchange that contributes directly to IT exports and the livelihoods of individuals nationwide.
Muhammad Shahzab from 1Link emphasized the importance of a reliable digital financial ecosystem for facilitating important players of the economy, including freelancers.
“We are working at 1Link to build a seamless payment infrastructure that empowers freelancers by enabling fast, transparent, and seamless payments to strengthen Pakistan’s freelance economy and empower professionals to compete globally,” he added.
With Pakistan already ranking among the top five freelancing markets worldwide, stakeholders believe targeted policies, training, financial integration, and support from innovation platforms such as Innovista will enable the sector to scale significantly in the years ahead.
The summit was addressed by various AI experts and renowned AI mentors, including Imran Ali Dina, Khadija Shahzad, Hassan Bin Liaquat, Ammara Aftab, and Fahad Shaikh.
A panel discussion was also held on freelancing in the age of AI.
