As Pakistan’s digital economy accelerates, freelancers and IT entrepreneurs are once again calling on the government to facilitate better international payment options — especially in light of Payoneer’s recent fee hikes that are putting added pressure on an already strained workforce.
🚨 Why the Outcry? Payoneer’s Sudden Fee Spike
Payoneer, a major payment service provider for Pakistani freelancers, has significantly revised its pricing:
- Free services now come with charges, including fund transfers to USD, Euro, or GBP bank accounts
- Withdrawal fees have been increased by 50%, frustrating users who rely heavily on the platform
- The platform remains the primary international payment method integrated with banks like JazzCash, Faysal Bank, Meezan Bank, and HBL
🎙️ “Payoneer’s sudden 50% fee hike seems unfair. Freelancers are already burdened and trying to grow into entrepreneurs,” said Ibrahim Amin, Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA).
📢 What the Tech Community Wants
Pakistan’s IT experts and freelance leaders are urging the government and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to:
âś… Create an International Payment Gateway
Provide alternative payment platforms, like PayPal or Stripe, to reduce dependence on a single provider.
âś… Introduce Cross-Border Support via RAAST or Buna
Accelerate SBP’s plan to integrate RAAST and the Arab Monetary Fund’s Buna system for affordable remittances and freelancer payments.
âś… Encourage Competition
Invite multiple platforms to the Pakistani market to create a competitive ecosystem — avoiding monopolistic behavior and sudden price hikes.
âś… Subsidize Service Fees
Design a policy to subsidize service charges, similar to initiatives for overseas Pakistanis, ensuring freelancers keep more of their hard-earned income.
👩‍💻 The Bigger Picture: Freelancers Powering Pakistan’s Economy
Pakistan’s freelance workforce is not just growing — it’s becoming a critical engine of foreign exchange. Many of these digital workers:
- Are self-taught
- Provide services to clients in over 150 countries
- Use platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal
- Train through free courses by public/private institutions and NGOs
🗣️ “They’re not just earning for their families — they’re helping reduce poverty and bring in precious foreign reserves,” added PAFLA’s Ibrahim Amin.
🧠Expert Insight: “Act Now or Fall Behind”
Dr. Noman Ahmad Said, a veteran IT exporter, warns that Pakistan needs to act fast to retain and grow its digital workforce:
“The government must think outside the box. Remote work is evolving globally, and Pakistan can’t afford to fall behind.”
He also recommends exploring partnerships with banks and new-age service providers, adding that payment barriers should not hold back an industry that has the potential to drive Pakistan’s export strategy forward.
🚀 What Needs to Happen Next
To build a future-ready freelancing ecosystem, Pakistan must:
- âś… Open the market for payment solutions like PayPal, Wise, Stripe
- âś… Subsidize fund transfer costs to empower freelancers
- âś… Enhance transparency and competition among service providers
- âś… Implement cross-border infrastructure through SBP and AMF partnerships
đź“Ś Final Thoughts
The message from Pakistan’s digital workforce is clear:
They don’t just need payment platforms. They need fair, accessible, and scalable payment infrastructure. 💼🌍
As the number of freelancers continues to grow, so does the urgency to modernize financial access. The right policy today could unlock millions in tech exports tomorrow.
