Pakistan's freelancers earned more than $950 million in foreign exchange during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, according to the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA).
State Bank of Pakistan data showed export receipts from computer and information services reached $959 million between July and April, up from $642 million in the same period a year earlier.
How much did Pakistan freelancers earn this year?
Pakistan freelancers generated $959 million in export receipts between July 2025 and April 2026, according to State Bank of Pakistan data. That marks a 49% increase, or $317 million more than the same period last year.
The figures put the sector on course to cross the $1 billion mark before the fiscal year closes.
What is driving the growth in Pakistan's freelance earnings?
PAFLA president and CEO Imran Batada attributed the surge to growing participation on global platforms including Upwork and Fiverr, as well as increased activity across social media platforms.
Awareness of freelancing has risen significantly in recent years, drawing more Pakistanis toward digital work. Online learning, private training institutions, government programs and NGO-led initiatives have all contributed to expanding the country's digital workforce.
Pakistan's freelancing community now stands at an estimated 3 million people, according to Batada. He said continued growth would depend on closer collaboration among the government, banks and other stakeholders.
Batada, who has trained more than 25,000 freelancers and received the Global CIO Award five times, called on Pakistani freelancers to keep upgrading their skills to stay competitive internationally.
What skills are Pakistani freelancers being encouraged to develop?
Batada specifically urged students and young professionals to focus on advanced artificial intelligence and soft skills. PAFLA has developed a strategy to hold online and in-person sessions across Pakistan covering emerging industry trends, business development and payment processes.
These sessions are intended to prepare freelancers for the evolving demands of global clients.
Which institutions have supported Pakistan's freelance sector?
PAFLA credited the sector's progress to joint efforts by the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Software Export Board, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
These bodies have worked to improve infrastructure, ease payment access and expand training opportunities for freelancers. Pakistan is now approaching the $1 billion milestone in freelance export receipts, a target that PAFLA says reflects the sector's growing maturity.
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