Pakistan’s freelancing sector, which the Asian Development Bank identifies as one of the largest in the world with over 2.3 million active professionals contributing USD 800 million in annual foreign exchange earnings, is facing a mounting crisis as persistent internet slowdowns and connectivity outages disrupt the daily work of digital professionals across the country. The Pakistan Freelancers Association has formally raised the alarm, calling on the government and internet service providers to treat uninterrupted broadband connectivity as an economic imperative rather than a secondary infrastructure concern.
Pakistan Freelancers Association Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Amin stated that slow internet speeds are causing direct and measurable harm to the freelancing community, damaging Pakistan’s standings in global freelance rankings and eroding the professional reputation that individual workers and the country’s digital sector have built over years of sustained effort. He noted that the current round of submarine cable repairs, which has reduced internet speed and quality across the country during the maintenance window, has compounded an already difficult operating environment for freelancers who depend on reliable, high-speed connectivity to serve international clients, meet tight deadlines, and participate in video-based communication that is integral to remote work. The problem does not stop at the freelancing community alone. Ride-hailing drivers and food delivery workers, both of whom operate through app-based platforms that require constant data connectivity, are also experiencing income losses as a direct consequence of unreliable internet services, illustrating the breadth of the economic disruption that poor connectivity causes across Pakistan’s gig economy at large.
To address the structural vulnerability exposed by the submarine cable fault, Amin urged the government to seriously explore satellite internet as a contingency solution that could provide backup connectivity during periods when undersea cable infrastructure is under repair or experiencing disruption. Satellite-based internet systems, which do not depend on the same physical infrastructure as submarine cables, could significantly reduce the downtime that Pakistani digital workers are forced to absorb during such events. Looking at the longer-term horizon, Amin expressed cautious optimism that the rollout of fifth generation mobile networks in Pakistan will improve productivity for freelancers and content creators by delivering faster and more consistent connectivity, potentially unlocking new service categories and strengthening Pakistan’s competitive position in global freelance markets.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Special Investment Facilitation Council are both currently supporting the development of the freelancing ecosystem through training programmes and enabling initiatives, and thousands of new professionals continue to enter the market each month, making the resolution of connectivity challenges increasingly urgent for the sustainability of this growth trajectory.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
