The committee’s head, Kauda Babar, inquired about the government’s support for freelancers. He claimed the freelancers worked freely for local and international clients, even from remote locations, and generated billions of rupees without any government assistance.
According to Senator Babar, most of the freelancers were low- and middle-class adolescents who contributed heavily.
Dr Sohail Rajput, IT Secretary, told the committee that the department was in frequent contact with freelancers and other stakeholders to address their concerns.
As a result of their lack of faith in government officials, freelancers have so far avoided the registration process.
“We are seeking to register these young individuals in the normal database through a public awareness campaign,” Mr Rajput added.
The meeting was informed that the State Bank of Pakistan is working on improving the process of financial transactions and remittances.
The committee members stated that the freelancers were the nation’s future and an asset for economic prosperity.
The IT Secretary informed the committee that several training programmes had been initiated in partnership with colleges around the country to develop the youth’s potential and prepare graduates for the market.