The impact of government internet related restrictions on freelancing in pakistan
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Date
2025
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Publisher
UMT Lahore
Abstract
The research in this thesis focuses on the barrage of internet disruptions affecting freelancers in Pakistan and investigates how these disruptions affect productivity, income and client access. However, with the growing number of freelancing industry in Pakistan, stable internet access is extremely necessary for those freelancers who are totally dependent on online system for communication, working on projects, and payment taking. Despite this, government mandated Internet restrictions such as censorship, platform bans, and internet shutdowns have gradually interrupted their ability to work as it used to. The main goal of this study is to identify the
challenges freelancers are being faced through them and to investigate their countermeasures. The data is collected in this study from freelancers working in Lahore based on planned surveys, which is quantitatively accumulated from them. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, ANOVA and Cronbach’s Alpha are used to measure the potential effects of the internet disruptions on the freelancer productivity and earnings. Internet restrictions are found to impede freelancers’ productivity, income and ability to connect with clients by a large margin. Although the use of coping strategies, such as VPN use, helped give some relief, there were not as many benefits realised from switching internet providers and using alternative platforms. The findings underscore the requirement that policy reforms are made to take care of the internet infrastructure issues, in particular in the rural areas, and recommend the need of a smart and balanced method to advanced digital governance guaranteeing security without hindering social and financial growth. In addition to this, the study also provides practical recommendations for freelancers like add, digital literacy and digital right advocacy in order to deal with the disruptions. In conclusion, this thesis proves that Pakistan is in need of expanded and reliable internet access for freelancers and gives insights for policymakers and freelancers in Pakistan. Finally, it requests further investigation into regional differences regarding how freelancers experienced websites restrictions and the relics benefit of coping deport. The outcome seeks to promote growth of Pakistan’s freelancing sector on a sustainable basis and therefore the digital economy of the world.