The Ministry of IT and Telecom has submitted the National Freelancing Facilitation Policy to the Federal Cabinet for approval.
The policy, developed after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, aims to position Pakistan as a leading global freelance market, enhancing exports and foreign exchange earnings.
According to the IT Ministry, the policy will provide freelancers with access to international markets, projects, and clients, supported by a robust marketing and promotional strategy. Fiscal and non-fiscal incentives are proposed to boost the freelancing sector, with goals to increase the number of active freelancers to one million and raise the average annual earnings to $5,000.
This could potentially contribute $5 billion in export remittance inflows, making Pakistan a top freelancer marketplace.
Key elements of the policy include the creation of a freelancer registry through a dedicated portal, which will facilitate interaction with local and international markets and regulatory authorities. The policy proposes a transparent governance model and framework, digital banking, e-payments, and access to financial instruments, including low-interest loans for freelancers. Additionally, registered freelancers would benefit from an income tax holiday.
The policy emphasizes building a digital-ready environment and increasing the adoption of learning and skill development practices. Capacity building and training programs aim to enhance the skills of human resources. Special initiatives are planned for underserved areas and districts in Southern Balochistan to promote inclusivity.
A facilitation desk for freelancers, visa facilitation, and digital banking channels are recommended. Banks are encouraged to establish technology business branches in at least six Pakistani cities to support freelancers. The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and relevant organizations will collaborate to provide subsidized, collateral-free loans up to Rs. 1 million, and health, life, and employee liability insurance through subsidies.
Further steps include maintaining an income tax holiday for registered freelancers until 2030, launching new training and technology certification initiatives, and streamlining inward foreign exchange remittances using defined codes exempted from income tax.
The policy also seeks to enable foreign exchange bank account openings for freelancers, allowing retention of over 50 percent of foreign exchange income in these accounts.
The PSEB will work with the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Revenue to ensure these remittances remain tax-exempt until 2030.
basically baaqi sectors ka khoon inho ne choos liya hah… ab freelaners ki baari hah… paa ji bhaago dubai waghaira, idhar ab kuch nai hah…
There is no tax holiday and freelancers knows how to remit tax free. Zero visa facilitation, zero facilitation from banks they only the change the accounts name rest are all same. PSEB online portal completely lack of foreign clients. And load upto 1 million is another lie, i tried and banks want more unnecessary documentations and pseb mediocre midset thinks 1 million loan can help freelancers when a price of new macbook is more that half a million how can a freelancer even get few for employees and office etc.
itne incompetent log. first u need to provide infrastructure. na bjli na reliable internet. 33 percent rax h. fazul ke hawai fires.
Very true.
33% tax?
How??
Listened a lot of such new initiatives, but we are still unable to enter into the selling platform of Amazon: no Pakistani banks are accepted there. ☹️
Very good steps to boost IT based exports. This is the 1st government who is considering freelancers as a proper sector to earn foreign reserves.
Daydreaming is good but not to this extent. They continue to make a fool of the people through such statements.
With less than 50% Literacy Rate, 6 months of loadshedding in a year, dead slow and even unavailable internet + stupid financial and monetary policies by the government, this daydreaming will for ever remain daydreaming.
Internet chlta nai, to freelancer earn kesy kry? Jazz, zong, ufone sb fraud kr rhi khuly aam, 4g k name pe 2g speed ati, site tk open ni hoti wo bhi main lahore city k andr.
lol. tax deta hai humara L. pehle hukumat democracy/election se aye phir milege tax lolzzz… koi pagal hi register ho k apna halal pesa corrupt dictators ko dega!!