KARACHI:
Pakistani freelancers earned more than $950 million in foreign exchange during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year despite multiple local and global challenges.
During the period from July 2025 to April 2026, Pakistani freelancers outnumbered freelancers from India, China, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), export earnings generated through self-employment in the computer and information services sector reached $959 million during July-April, compared to $642 million during the same period of the previous fiscal year.
This reflects an annual increase of 49% or $317 million.
Pakistan Freelancers Association CEO Dr Imran Batada said the increase in freelancers’ income was made possible by the increasing participation of Pakistani freelancers on various freelancing platforms including Upwork, Fiverr and social media platforms.
Dr Batada said awareness about freelancing had increased tremendously in Pakistan in recent years, enabling a large number of people to acquire skills through online learning, private institutions, government training programs and initiatives launched by various NGOs.
Dr. Imran Batada is a five-time recipient of the Global CIO Award and has trained over 25,000 freelancers. “Pakistan’s self-employed community comprises almost three million people. The government, banking sector and other stakeholders should work together to increase this number in an organized manner,” he said.
