The Fourth Industrial Revolution is fundamentally linked to technological advancements. These technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, blockchain, and other digital innovations, have transformed people’s daily lives. While these latest technological innovations can unfortunately contribute to illegal activities such as online scams, deepfake videos, and privacy breaches, their appropriate and correct utilisation through avenues like gig work and freelancing can significantly contribute to the socio-economic uplifting of individuals and nations alike.
Currently, Pakistan’s economic condition is characterised by a high unemployment rate that leads to brain drain and mental health issues among the country’s youth. Effective interventions in the gig economy could help address this issue by providing virtual access to the global marketplace. Notably, Pakistan ranked fourth in the global freelancing rankings in 2024. Presently, approximately three million freelancers are working in Pakistan with an average annual earning of Rs 524,393.
Economists frequently describe cities as engines of growth due to their superior earning opportunities, leading to significant urban migration. In Pakistan, we observe a similar pattern where individuals from marginalised and underdeveloped regions relocate to urban centres seeking better economic prospects.
Gilgit-Baltistan represents one of Pakistan’s peripheral regions. Despite boasting the highest literacy rate in the country, both the general population and youth of Gilgit-Baltistan frequently migrate to Pakistan’s urban centres due to insufficient industrialisation and limited employment opportunities. While the tourism and mining sectors are often considered potential game-changers for Gilgit-Baltistan, realising this potential requires substantial investments and financial resources. Given Pakistan’s current economic challenges and global market trends, the gig economy offers a promising solution for the region’s highly literate yet unemployed youth.
The lack of reliable internet connectivity and the ongoing energy crisis represent the primary obstacles. While global internet speeds are advancing toward 6G and 7G technologies, Gilgit-Baltistan struggles with unstable and limited 3G services
Recently, RASTA-PIDE, Pakistan’s largest research grants project, conducted its fifth conference where a research paper titled “The Future of Work in the Mountains: Exploring the Freelancing Landscape in Gilgit Baltistan” was presented. This paper highlights the significant potential of the gig economy in Gilgit-Baltistan. According to the research, the National Freelance Training Program (NFTP) at Karakoram International University (KIU) Gilgit emerged as the most successful program of its kind in Pakistan. The program trained nearly 1,400 youth across Gilgit-Baltistan through six cohorts, achieving a remarkable 58% graduation rate – the highest in Pakistan.
However, several challenges hinder the development of the gig economy in Gilgit-Baltistan. The lack of reliable internet connectivity and the ongoing energy crisis represent the primary obstacles. While global internet speeds are advancing toward 6G and 7G technologies, Gilgit-Baltistan struggles with unstable and limited 3G services. In many areas, internet connectivity remains restricted to EDGE (E) and 2G speeds. Additionally, during winter months, the region experiences power outages lasting 14 to 18 hours daily, severely disrupting internet connectivity which depends entirely on electricity availability.
Annually, the Gilgit-Baltistan government collaborates with local NGOs to launch freelancing training initiatives. Several small tech and freelancing hubs have been established to train the region’s youth, yet these operate in isolation. Most offer similar training programs without coordination, resulting in significant redundancy.
The government’s role must extend beyond simply establishing tech and freelancing hubs. Two years ago, the Gilgit-Baltistan government introduced tech fellows in primary and middle schools to stimulate student interest in this field. Unfortunately, after the initial two-year period, the contracts of these tech fellows were not renewed, and the initiative has since been completely discontinued.
The Government of Pakistan recently introduced “Uraan Pakistan” as part of its National Economic Transformation Plan. This plan centres around the “5Es” framework for economic development, with “E-Pakistan” representing one of its core elements. For sustainable socio-economic development, enhanced coordination between the federal government and the Gilgit-Baltistan government under this 5Es framework is essential. Given the demonstrated potential of Gilgit-Baltistan’s gig economy, ensuring reliable internet infrastructure should become the government’s top priority. Several private telecom companies in Pakistan have expressed interest in providing 4G services in Gilgit-Baltistan – an opportunity the government should capitalise on through formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to guarantee high-speed, uninterrupted internet services.
The current fragmented freelancing initiatives across public and private organisations in Gilgit-Baltistan require consolidation under independent regulatory bodies such as a “Gilgit-Baltistan Gig Work Regulator” or “Gilgit-Baltistan Freelancing Management Authority.” Such an institution would facilitate effective policy formulation, regulation, and the development of standardised freelancing curricula while enabling proper monitoring and evaluation of initiatives. Additionally, reinstating the school-level tech fellows program alongside technical education initiatives at KIU Gilgit and the University of Baltistan would help equip Gilgit-Baltistan’s youth with market-relevant skills.
The world has evolved significantly, with increasing numbers of people transitioning to online platforms. We now stand at a critical crossroads where we must decide whether to repel or attract talent. By empowering our youth – particularly in marginalised regions like Gilgit-Baltistan – with digital skills, Pakistan can emerge as a strong global economic power. The choice rests with us. Through strategic investments in high-speed internet infrastructure, structured training programs, and integrated policymaking, we can transform Gilgit-Baltistan into a freelancing powerhouse that serves as a model for the rest of Pakistan. The time for decisive action is now.
