ISLAMABAD: The caretaker minister for IT and Telecom reveals the official policy on Wednesday to establish approximately 10,000 e-job centres in the country, catering to freelancers who often lack a proper workplace.
Dr Umar Saif stated in a Twitter post that there are about 1.5 million freelancers regularly working in Pakistan. He said that helping freelancers is important for making their work better and helping them do it more easily.
“If we can facilitate one million freelancers, their earnings will increase to around $10 billion annually,” he said, adding that with the other measures already taken including permission to retain up to 50% of their export earnings and easy mode of receiving their payments the freelance activities are expected to grow in the country. The Ministry of IT and Telecom identified that a majority of freelancers are from smaller cities and towns, and female IT experts are predominantly from remote areas where job opportunities in their field are scarce.
Recognizing that many freelancers don’t have important things like a good place to work or fast internet at home, Saif explained that with the new plan, e-Rozgar centers will have everything you need. Each center can accommodate up to 100 people for work.
The scheme involves providing interest-free loans to building owners willing to convert their properties into e-Rozgar centres, with the capacity to accommodate 100 people.
According to the caretaker minister, the e-Rozgar centres’ most crucial aspect will be networking and connectivity among freelancers, fostering an atmosphere that supports them in pursuing high-end projects.
Saif mentioned that the temporary government has done well. They’ve made 13 big improvements in the past four months to help the IT and telecom industry.
