The Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), a group representing freelancers across the country, has asked the government to fix the ongoing internet problems quickly, according to ARY News.

In a statement, PAFLA President and CEO, Tufail Ahmed Khan, mentioned that freelancers have been facing slow internet and frequent disruptions for the past three weeks. He explained that these issues have made it difficult for freelancers to meet project deadlines, bring in new clients, and secure future work, leading to significant money losses.

The association emphasized that a stable and secure internet connection is essential for freelancers to do their work smoothly and continue contributing to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

“Pakistan is the fourth-largest freelancing industry in the world, with over 2.3 million full-time and part-time freelancers,” Tufail Ahmed Khan said. He warned that if these issues continue, online freelancing platforms might lower Pakistan’s ranking, further harming the industry.

The association also pointed out that many students rely on freelancing to pay for their education, and many educated housewives take on freelance projects to support their families, especially in these tough economic times.

According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, freelancers in the country earned $350 million in the 2023-24 financial year, marking a 40% increase from the previous year. This shows how fast the industry is growing and how important it is to the national economy, Khan added.

On Sunday, Federal Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, explained that the slow internet in Pakistan is due to the high use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). She said that when some apps were blocked, people started using VPNs, which bypass local internet services and slow down the internet. She assured that the government is working to fix the issue and improve internet services in Pakistan.

Shaza Fatima also mentioned that a Digitization Commission is being set up to digitize the economy. She added that IT exports are increasing due to steps taken by the Special Investment Facilitation Council. She rejected reports that the government was intentionally slowing down the internet, stating that the slowdown happened because of too much internet traffic.