QUETTA - PTCL said on Tuesday that it signed a partnership with a global technology firm, a move analysts say could reshape the country's freelancing sector.
The service will initially be available in Sialkot, Peshawar and Islamabad, with a nationwide launch planned for later in 2028.
The numbers tell part of the story. Freelancers in Pakistan brought in $25 million in Q2 2025, and the country remains one of the largest suppliers of online talent in the world.
The bigger picture
Analysts at Bykea estimate that the addressable market could be worth $18 million by 2026, driven by a young population and rising smartphone ownership.
"Our customers told us they wanted something simple, local and in their own language. That is what we shipped."
Mehwish Khan, dean of engineering at Easypaisa
The broader picture is one of steady growth. Internet penetration now exceeds 22% of the population, and mobile broadband subscriptions have more than doubled since 2019.
The view from investors
Employees will be offered training through a partnership with GIKI, the company said, with a focus on cloud engineering, data analysis and product management.
Key points
- Funding round values the company at about $150 million
- Rollout begins in Quetta and Lahore before expanding nationwide
- Competitors including Jazz are expected to respond within months
- Roughly 45 jobs expected over the next two years
Security experts have urged users to enable two-factor authentication and to update their apps promptly, noting that attackers increasingly target mobile-first markets.
Not everyone is convinced. Critics point to a shortage of skilled engineers, unreliable power supply and a tax regime that changes almost every budget cycle as reasons for caution.
Reporting by the WritePures newsroom. Have a tip? Contact our editors.
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