Internet disruptions in Pakistan threaten freelancers and digital economy

Pakistan is currently facing widespread internet disruptions, which is causing significant challenges for both freelancers and social media users. The decline in services has been a source of increasing frustration, especially among the youth who rely on stable internet for their means of earning a living. Freelancers all over the country are unable to meet deadlines and sustain international projects due to slow internet speeds and mobile network blackouts.

The freelance economy in Pakistan has expanded significantly in the last few years, and websites such as Upwork and Fiverr allow young people to work with clients from all over the world. But recent weeks have put an end to these opportunities, and a lot of freelancers cannot even reach their clients or complete the projects on time. The consequence is a decreasing number of clients and endangered long-term cooperation, many freelancers stated that they have concerns about the loss of income and the deterioration of their business image.

It has not been the first time that internet disruptions have impacted the economy of Pakistan. Such outages have happened during political instability, a time when telecom operators may shut down mobile networks to avert anarchy. However, these measures entail a high cost economically, especially to the freelance sector which is essential in the IT export market of the country.

Experts warn that Pakistan could face millions in economic losses if the issue persists, with freelancers at risk of losing their incomes and international opportunities. The long-term impact might also discourage other investors from investing in the Pakistan technology sector, due to emerging doubts about the stability of the country’s digital economy.

The authorities are being urged to resolve the internet issues. Though security considerations may sometimes require limited interruptions, long-duration outages pose a threat to the emerging freelance market in Pakistan and the country’s digital economy. The best approach is to strike a balance between security and the ability of thousands of people working remotely across the country.