KARACHI:
With a remarkable rise in the number of freelancers in the country, Pakistan ranks fourth globally. A noticeable spike was observed during the pandemic. Besides generating significant revenues for their own livelihood, Pakistani freelancers are one of the greatest sources of dollar inflows in the country — something that is also benefiting the national economy. Pakistani freelancers attracted remittances of about $400 million in the fiscal year 2022. In these times of high inflation, when the very survival has become a challenge, these freelancers are doing a good service for the country.
However, the bitter truth is that instead of facilitating the freelancers, the government is even depriving them of some of the very basic requirements. For instance, the absence of international payment methods in Pakistan has been one of the foremost and greatest woes of freelancers. They face enormous hindrances while making international transactions. A huge amount goes out of their pockets in the form of tax deduction. I request the government to facilitate them so that they could bring in more dollars.
Saif Ur Rehman
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2022.
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