Nationwide internet slowdown has crippled freelance work across the country.
Sources indicate persistent internet issues across the country are severely impacting various sectors, including online workers. Pakistani freelancers report a 70% drop in work opportunities due to sluggish internet speeds.
Slow internet speeds are causing freelancers to miss deadlines, leading to account closures for many. Additionally, the sluggish internet is hampering digital marketing efforts.
Experts warn that if these connectivity issues persist, freelance clients may migrate to other countries like Bangladesh or India.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) recently banned VPNs in Pakistan but has allowed freelancers to register their VPNs with phone numbers. It is currently unclear how effective this registration will be, but it could help many online workers through the struggles of internet restrictions.
The internet shutdowns in Pakistan have inflicted losses exceeding $1 million per hour on the country’s Information Technology sector, according to Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA).
Highlighting the impact of these repeated disruptions, Syed revealed that 99% of companies reported service interruptions, while 90% faced financial losses. Citing a specific example, he mentioned that a recent internet outage caused one call center to incur a $2 million penalty.
Discussing the issue of duties and taxes, he stated that the sector is burdened by taxes on its revenue, which hampers growth. He urged the government to introduce tax incentives to help the industry thrive, attract investment, and boost remittances.
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According to my data it was 71.3% not 70%.
Please don’t quote wrong figures.
A good charm for pakistan’s neighboring countries.