Pakistan Freelancers Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bano Qabil, an initiative of Alkhidmat Welfare Society, to expand freelancing training and mentorship opportunities for young Pakistanis. The agreement was signed on June 24 by Ibrahim Amin, Chairman of Pakistan Freelancers Association, and Farooq Kamlani, Director of the Bano Qabil Programme at Alkhidmat Welfare Society.
Under the partnership, Pakistan Freelancers Association will provide expert led freelancing training and mentorship to Bano Qabil students, along with a dedicated Freelance Success Lecture Series designed to walk participants through the practical realities of building a freelancing career. The collaboration also includes corporate social responsibility support for youth development initiatives and access to the association’s Safety Net and welfare programmes, which are intended to provide a support system for freelancers navigating the challenges of independent, platform based work.
The agreement further extends to international payment support, an area that has historically posed challenges for Pakistani freelancers working with overseas clients given restrictions around foreign currency transactions and payment platform access. Both organisations plan to hold joint workshops, seminars, and networking events as part of the partnership, with Pakistan Freelancers Association formally taking on the role of strategic partner across Bano Qabil’s broader initiatives going forward.
Bano Qabil, launched by Alkhidmat Foundation in 2022, offers free information technology courses covering areas including web development, digital marketing, graphic design, and freelancing, with more than 100,000 students having graduated from the programme since its founding. The initiative was created to address youth unemployment in Pakistan, where a significant share of the population under 30 continues to face limited access to formal job opportunities, positioning practical digital skills training as an alternative pathway into the workforce through freelancing and remote employment.
Pakistan Freelancers Association, a non profit organisation focused on supporting the country’s freelancing community through mentoring and industry collaboration, has pursued similar partnerships with other organisations in the past aimed at expanding access to freelancing education and support services. The latest agreement with Bano Qabil reflects a continued effort by both organisations to formalise pathways connecting free IT skills training with the practical support structures freelancers need to succeed in international markets, an increasingly important consideration as Pakistan’s freelancing sector continues to grow as a source of foreign exchange earnings and youth employment.
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