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ISLAMABAD: Aid groups said this week they are shifting from emergency response to early recovery after weeks of monsoon floods displaced around 3 million people and affected more than 6.9 million across Pakistan.

According to a new situation report by International Medical Corps (IMC) released on Sept. 25, floods have inundated more than 2.5 million acres of farmland, destroyed crops and livestock, and forced over 150,000 people into temporary shelters. As waters slowly recede, families returning home are finding collapsed houses, contaminated water sources and damaged sanitation systems, raising fears of disease outbreaks.

The floods come just three years after the 2022 disaster that submerged a third of the country and affected 33 million people, highlighting Pakistan’s growing vulnerability to climate-driven disasters. Authorities and humanitarian groups are warning that recurring extreme weather is eroding livelihoods, deepening food insecurity and straining already fragile public services.

“These floods have upended lives and livelihoods on a massive scale, and our focus now is on helping affected families recover from the immediate impacts and begin rebuilding their lives,” an IMC spokesperson said in the report. 

The organization said its teams have conducted 2,285 outpatient consultations, distributed more than 57,500 water-purification sachets, and reached 21,834 people with hygiene promotion sessions. IMC has also identified four health facilities for rehabilitation and is providing psychosocial support to flood-affected families.

“Health risks remain high, with rising cases of diarrhea, skin infections and mosquito-borne diseases,” IMC said. “Damage to water infrastructure has left many communities relying on unsafe sources, while livestock losses have further undermined rural incomes.”

IMC teams are now mapping damaged villages to assess long-term needs and plan for the rehabilitation of essential services.

“Restoring clean water access and repairing health facilities will be critical to preventing future disease outbreaks and supporting communities as they rebuild,” the organization said.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s freelance workforce could boost its annual earnings beyond $1 billion if backed by stronger institutional support, better payment infrastructure and expanded training programs, the Pakistan Freelancers Association said on Thursday.

Pakistan is already ranked among the world’s top five freelancing markets, with more than 2.3 million active freelancers contributing to digital exports and employment.

Speaking at the “AI Beyond Border Summit 2025” at the 26th ITCN Asia conference in Karachi, stakeholders said the country’s rapidly growing freelance sector was poised to become a cornerstone of Pakistan’s digital economy, attracting global clients and generating vital foreign exchange if nurtured with targeted policies, skills development, and seamless digital payment systems.

“Pakistan’s freelancing community is on the verge of a major milestone, with earnings expected to exceed $1 billion annually,” said Ibrahim Amin, chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers’ Association (PAFLA). 

“Our freelancers are bringing foreign exchange, building global trust in Pakistani talent, and creating opportunities for themselves, fellow youngsters, and women.”

Amin said young, tech-savvy freelancers were driving the country’s digital growth, supported by initiatives from PAFLA, Innovista, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and 1Link. These initiatives, he added, were “key steps forward in nurturing an evolving ecosystem that connects talent with innovation, fueling the country’s digital transformation.”

Innovista is an innovation platform and ecosystem builder working to train freelancers, support startups, promote AI skills, and connect Pakistani talent with global opportunities.

Tahir Malik, project director at Innovista Indus, said the organization was expanding mentorship and training programs while assisting freelancers on tax-related issues. Innovista also launched a National Agentic AI Hackathon to engage 1,000 participants across six cities as part of efforts to make freelancing a “competitive and sustainable” source of foreign exchange and IT exports.

Financial infrastructure is another key factor in scaling the freelance economy, said Muhammad Shahzab from 1Link, which is building a seamless payment network to support independent workers.

“We are working at 1Link to build a seamless payment infrastructure that empowers freelancers by enabling fast, transparent, and secure payments,” Shahzab said. “This will strengthen Pakistan’s freelance economy and enable professionals to compete globally.”

Panel discussions at the summit also explored the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of freelance work and how Pakistan’s workforce can adapt to emerging technologies.