PayPal Enabled for Pakistani Freelancers as SIFC Marks Key Digital Milestones

As the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) completes its second year, Pakistan has made notable progress in advancing its digital economy. One of the most significant achievements is the enablement of PayPal payment services for Pakistani freelancers.

Through this initiative, SIFC has simplified international payment processes, offering a much-needed solution to the country’s growing freelance community. The pilot project, launched earlier this year, allows 10,000 freelancers to receive payments via PayPal through an intermediary platform, eliminating the need for freelancers to create individual PayPal accounts.

This system ensures that funds from international clients are directly transferred to freelancers’ local bank accounts, providing a more efficient and accessible payment solution while promoting financial inclusion.

Expanding IT Infrastructure

In addition to facilitating international payments, SIFC has made strides in building the country’s IT infrastructure:

• 43 IT parks have been made operational across Pakistan.
• Major IT parks are currently under construction in Islamabad and Karachi.
• These facilities offer startups and freelancers modern workspaces, co-working environments, and skill development centres.

E-Rozgar Centres and Global Investment

SIFC has also established over 10,000 E-Rozgar Centres with the aim of training and empowering 50,000 freelancers annually.

Under the broader Digital Pakistan initiative, international tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Cisco have expanded their investment in Pakistan’s IT and telecommunications sectors. This has contributed to the country’s growing IT exports, which have now crossed $3.2 billion.