The Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre that will give eligible PAFLA members discounts on healthcare and diagnostic services, according to a post by the association on LinkedIn. The MoU was signed by Farheen Fatima, Chief Growth and Strategy at PAFLA, and Hana Farhan Essa Abedin, Director at Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre. PAFLA said that supporting freelancers means looking beyond their professional journeys to their health and well-being, and presented the partnership as part of that approach.
Under the agreement, eligible PAFLA members can get 35 percent off all routine tests at the laboratory. They will also receive discounts on special tests and diagnostic imaging, and savings on services including MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, physiotherapy, dentistry, and a wide range of other healthcare services. PAFLA said the benefits are available exclusively to eligible members and are subject to the terms and conditions of the MoU. The post does not say how long the discounts will last, which branches or cities they apply to, or what makes a member eligible, so freelancers will need to check those details with PAFLA. People who are not yet members can join through the registration link shared by the association, and organisations interested in collaborating can write to hello@pafla.org.pk.
PAFLA describes itself as a non-profit body representing the independent workforce in Pakistan, and it has been active since 2021. Profit reported in May 2025 that the association had more than 100,000 registered members and had organised seminars and training sessions, including some with Google. Its chairman, Ibrahim Amin, has said that freelancers contribute over $500 million annually in foreign exchange and that Pakistan has about 2.37 million freelancers, a figure that the Asian Development Bank has also been cited as estimating. Freelancers generally work without employer-provided health coverage, which is one reason member benefits such as discounted diagnostics can matter to a community that sells digital services such as software development, design, writing, and marketing to clients abroad.
The healthcare deal differs from most of PAFLA’s earlier partnerships, which have focused on finance and skills. The association has signed MoUs with banks including Meezan Bank, ABL, and Mobilink Bank to offer freelancer-focused banking services and has partnered with SI Global Solutions on training and mentorship. It also signed an agreement with Alkhidmat Foundation’s Bano Qabil programme in July 2026 to support digital skills and freelancing careers for young people. Member discounts are a way for a membership body to give freelancers practical value alongside advocacy and training, and the latest MoU adds a health component to that mix. How many members will actually use the offer, and whether PAFLA plans similar agreements with other healthcare providers, was not stated in the announcement.
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