Dr. Umar Saif, the Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, shared some exciting developments at the Tech Destination Pakistan event. Starting in February, a pilot project is set to roll out, benefiting 10,000 freelancers in Pakistan by enabling them to receive payments through PayPal.
Dr. Saif clarified that while PayPal itself won’t have a direct presence in Pakistan, an agreement has been established to facilitate payments through PayPal via a third-party arrangement. In this innovative program, freelancers won’t need to go through the traditional process of opening a PayPal account. Instead, individuals outside of Pakistan will make payments from their existing PayPal accounts, and these funds will be swiftly deposited into the freelancers’ accounts.
To simplify the process for freelancers, the government has streamlined the opening of bank accounts. Freelancers only need to provide evidence of having accounts on popular platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Elance, Toptal, or Crossover.
Dr. Saif emphasized a game-changing policy for freelancers in the IT industry – a 50% dollar retention policy. This means freelancers can retain half of their earnings in dollars, providing them with a debit card for spending this money locally or internationally.
The government has allocated funds to establish E-Rozgaar centers across Pakistan. These centers are designed to offer top-notch facilities, enhance productivity, and contribute to the overall strengthening of Pakistan’s digital landscape.
As part of this comprehensive program, over 250 E-Rozgaar Pakistan centers are slated to be set up through collaborations between the government and private entities. This initiative seeks to encourage freelancing and entrepreneurship in Pakistan, fostering inclusivity in the digital, financial, and economic sectors.
Dr. Saif also highlighted significant decisions aimed at improving IT education. A standardized quality test for 75,000 IT graduates is scheduled for January 15, with successful candidates being offered job opportunities through the Industry Placement Program. The government is allocating funds to support industry-specific courses in universities, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the current trends in the industry.
The government plans to provide training for 16,000 individuals in international certifications, ensuring a skilled workforce in areas such as Salesforce, Cisco, Microsoft, and Oracle financials. Federal IT Secretary Hassan Nasir Jami emphasized the ministry’s dedication to developing the IT ecosystem, encouraging entrepreneurs, students, and developers to seize the available opportunities in this evolving landscape.
