Fiverr has announced that it will temporarily set the accounts of Pakistani freelancers to “Out-of-office” mode due to severe and ongoing internet disruptions across the country. This measure aims to protect freelancers’ ratings and mitigate any negative impacts on their performance scores resulting from unexpected delays in order fulfillment.
Fiverr has allowed the accounts to be made available if freelancers believe they have reliable internet.
This disruption is particularly consequential given the critical role that the freelance economy plays in Pakistan. Freelancers in Pakistan have increasingly become a pivotal part of the country’s economic landscape, contributing significantly to the ICT sector. In recent years, Pakistan’s freelance sector has flourished, with freelancers generating substantial revenue from international clients. In 2021 and 2022, Pakistani freelancers earned approximately $400 million annually, making up about 15% of Pakistan’s total $2.6 billion ICT exports. The sector’s rapid growth is underscored by reports indicating that Pakistan is the fourth-largest player in the global digital gig marketplace. The content in this publication is expensive to produce. But unlike other journalistic outfits, business publications have to cover the very organizations that directly give them advertisements. Hence, this large source of revenue, which is the lifeblood of other media houses, is severely compromised on account of Profit’s no-compromise policy when it comes to our reporting. No wonder, Profit has lost multiple ad deals, worth tens of millions of rupees, due to stories that held big businesses to account. Hence, for our work to continue unfettered, it must be supported by discerning readers who know the value of quality business journalism, not just for the economy but for the society as a whole.To read the full article, subscribe and support independent business journalism in Pakistan
