Stakeholders believe that Pakistan’s freelancing community could boost its annual earnings beyond $1 billion, thanks to increasing training opportunities, continued institutional support, and the development of the digital ecosystem.
At the “AI Beyond Borders Summit 2025,” held during the 26th ITCN Asia powered by Innovista in Karachi on Thursday, experts highlighted that the country’s freelancers are well-positioned to unlock new opportunities, attract global clients, and cement their place as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s digital economy. This progress is attributed 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 youth, and women,” said Ibrahim Amin, Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers’ Association (PAFLA).
He added that Pakistan’s freelancing community is on the verge of a major milestone, with annual earnings expected to exceed $1 billion and the number of freelancers projected to rise beyond 2.3 million in the coming months.
The country’s young, tech-savvy freelancers are driving digital growth, supported by initiatives from PAFLA, Innovista, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and 1Link. These efforts are nurturing an evolving ecosystem that connects talent with innovation and fuels the country’s digital transformation.
In his keynote address, Tahir Malik, Project Director at Innovista Indus, said Innovista is working to facilitate entrepreneurship among freelancers nationwide through various training programs, mentorship, and assistance with tax-related issues.
Innovista has launched the National Agentic AI Hackathon, inviting 1,000 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 livelihoods nationwide,” Malik said.
Muhammad Shahzab from 1Link emphasized the importance of a reliable digital financial ecosystem for supporting key players in the economy, including freelancers. “We are working at 1Link to build a seamless payment infrastructure that empowers freelancers by enabling fast, transparent, and efficient payments, strengthening Pakistan’s freelance economy and enabling professionals to compete globally,” he added.
With Pakistan already ranking among the top five freelancing markets worldwide, stakeholders believe that 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 also featured addresses by various AI experts and renowned mentors, including Imran Ali Dina, Khadija Shahzad, Hassan Bin Liaquat, Ammara Aftab, and Fahad Shaikh. A panel discussion was held on freelancing in the age of AI.
