Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Dr. Umar Saif, revealed plans for a groundbreaking pilot project aimed at revolutionizing the freelancing landscape in Pakistan. Addressing the Tech Destination Pakistan event, Dr. Saif unveiled details of the initiative, emphasizing a strategic partnership that enables 10,000 freelancers to start receiving payments from PayPal as early as February.
Dr. Saif clarified that while PayPal itself is not directly entering the Pakistani market, an agreement has been reached to channel remittances through PayPal via a third party. Under this program, freelancers will not need to open a PayPal account; payments from individuals abroad will be seamlessly deposited into freelancers’ accounts.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to fostering the digital economy, Dr. Saif outlined the phased implementation of the program. In March, the initiative is set to scale up, providing widespread access to PayPal and Stripe payments across the country.
The minister detailed the streamlined process for freelancers, indicating that account verification would only require evidence of an account on platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, Elance, Toptal, or Crossover.
Furthermore, Dr. Saif announced a progressive 50 percent dollar retention policy for the IT industry. Freelancers can retain half of their earnings in dollars, receiving a debit card for both domestic and international transactions.
In parallel, the government is actively working on the establishment of over 250 E-Rozgaar Pakistan centers, scheduled to be operational by February 19, 2024. Dr. Saif emphasized that these centers, formed through a public-private partnership, aim to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure, offering interest-free loans to qualified individuals and companies.
As part of a broader strategy to boost the IT sector, Dr. Saif highlighted the commencement of the first standardized quality test for 75,000 IT graduates on January 15. Successful candidates will be offered job opportunities through the Industry Placement Program, with government stipends provided for students and cash awards for participating companies.
Dr. Saif underscored the importance of international certifications in the IT industry and announced plans to train 16,000 individuals in technologies like Salesforce, Cisco, Microsoft, and Oracle financials.
Federal IT Secretary Hassan Nasir Jami expressed the ministry’s commitment to enhancing IT exports and supporting freelancers, urging entrepreneurs, students, and developers to seize the opportunities emerging in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving IT ecosystem.
