Govt plans workplaces for freelancers to boost exports

Caretaker IT and Telecom Minister Dr Umar Saif on Wednesday announced to set up 10,000 e-Rozgar centres across the country to facilitate freelancers as most of them do not have a proper workplace. “Around 1.5 million freelancers are working regularly in Pakistan,” Dr Saif said in a statement posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The minister said the convenience of freelancers was essential for them to improve their work performance and efficiency. “If we can facilitate one million freelancers, their earnings will be enhanced to around $10 billion annually,” he said, adding that with measures already taken including permission to retain up to 50 per cent of their export earnings and easy mode of receiving their payments the freelance activities are expected to grow rapidly.