The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) held a meeting with country freelancers to channel them under the government platform. Committee chairman Kauda Babar inquired from the IT ministry about the services and facilities provided to freelancers.
In Covid 19, Pakistan freelancers ranked themselves on the top hardworking day and night. With the collaboration of Virtual University, the government project provides free e-learning courses for capacity building. The current project “Digi Skills” polishes freelancers’ abilities according to skills acquired by them. Freelancers complete their projects of local or foreign clients from remote areas with the help of the internet without any physical appearance. The freelancers generate a colossal amount dealing in billions.
“Most of the freelancers were lower and middle-class youths, and they remitted a significant amount,” Senator Babar said.
Government is in constant contact with the remote workers to solve their problems. Pakistan’s government wants to include freelancers in the taxation system. After registration, freelancers will enjoy benefits, but a lack of trust in government institutions keeps freelancers away from the process.
IT Ministry will start an awareness campaign about the benefits of registration in youth. Young freelancers will be added to the taxation base for broadening the taxpayers’ number. In the meeting, the matter of international transactions was also got attention which would be discussed with the SBP.
Freelancers are the basic unit of the Information technology world. These people are assets of Pakistan and pillars of economic growth. IT Ministry is involved in students’ capacity building by engaging universities that offer courses in digital marketing, graphic designing, web development, and other skills. All the steps are taken to increase the number of freelancers to meet the international market demand. Our neighbor country India is performing outclass in the IT industry.
National Information Technology Board (NITB) Act, 2022, approved by the National Assembly of Pakistan. The committee reviewed this act, demanding Senate approval. After this Bill, NITB will perform independently without any political interference. This institution faced huge financial problems in the past due to subsidiaries’ offers. NITB is assisting the government by managing many applications like the NCOC app and e-office.
NITB can assist in developing the human resources department, but the lengthy process of grant adds misery to the institution limiting its efficiency. The provision of autonomy will solve many problems related to decision-making.
The current era is the technology era facilitating people from remote areas to earn bread and butter. The new 5G technology will ease the operation of artificial intelligence combating various real-life problems. Pakistan should provide an environment of technology for youth, enabling them to create space in the international market. Government should support the energized youth by bringing smooth ways of transactions.
Source:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1675363/it-freelancers-reluctant-to-sign-up-with-govt
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