Dharshini RDA 
The slowdown in the internet nationwide has paralysed the work of freelancers across the country.
Sources say that the ongoing internet problems across the country are having a severe impact on various sectors, including online workers. Pakistani freelancers are reporting a 70% drop in work opportunities due to the slow internet.
The slowness of the internet means that freelancers do not meet deadlines, resulting in many of them having their accounts closed. In addition, slow internet speeds hamper digital marketing efforts.
Experts warn that if these connectivity problems persist, freelance clients could migrate to other countries such as Bangladesh or India.
Pakistan’s Telecommunications Authority (PTA) recently banned VPNs in Pakistan, but allowed freelancers to register their VPN using a phone number. The effectiveness of this registration is not yet clear, but it could help many online workers overcome the difficulties associated with internet restrictions.
Sajjad Mustafa Syed, President of the Pakistan Software Association (P@SHA), said that Internet outages in Pakistan had inflicted losses of more than $1 million per hour on the country’s IT sector.
Stressing the impact of these repeated disruptions, Mr Syed revealed that 99% of businesses have reported service interruptions, while 90% have suffered financial losses. Citing a specific example, he said that a recent internet outage resulted in a $2 million penalty for a call centre.
Addressing the issue of duties and taxes, he said that the sector is burdened by taxes on its revenues, which is hampering growth. He called on the government to introduce tax incentives to help the industry prosper, attract investment and boost remittances.
