KARACHI: The Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) and Dr Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer exclusive healthcare and diagnostic discounts to eligible members of the association.
The arrangement is aimed at making medical services more affordable for Pakistan’s expanding freelance community, which often does not have access to the health coverage and medical benefits generally available to employees in the formal corporate sector.
The MoU was signed by Farheen Fatima, Chief Growth & Strategy at PAFLA, and Hana Farhan Essa Abedin, Director at Dr Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre.
Under the partnership, eligible PAFLA members will be entitled to a 35 percent discount on routine laboratory tests. They will also receive special discounts on specialised tests, diagnostic imaging, MRI and CT scans, ultrasound, physiotherapy, dentistry and various other healthcare services.
The initiative forms part of PAFLA’s wider efforts to extend social protection, welfare benefits and facilitation opportunities to freelancers and digital workers across Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, PAFLA Chairman Ibrahim Amin said freelancing was becoming an increasingly popular source of livelihood around the world, especially in Pakistan, where a rising number of skilled and talented individuals were turning to independent digital work.
He said that despite their growing role in the economy, many freelancers continued to remain without essential benefits, including healthcare and medical coverage, which are commonly provided to employees working in organisations.
“Freelancers are an important part of Pakistan’s digital economy, but many of them do not have access to the social protection and healthcare benefits enjoyed by salaried employees. PAFLA is working to bridge this gap by building a support network that provides the freelance community with meaningful benefits and opportunities,” he said.
Amin added that PAFLA was committed to improving the welfare and quality of life of freelancers by facilitating access to healthcare, financial services, professional development and other support initiatives.
He also urged freelancers across the country to become PAFLA members and benefit from the association’s growing range of services, partnerships and incentives designed to help them achieve greater financial security and a better standard of living.
According to estimates, Pakistan has nearly 3 million full-time and part-time freelancers, making the country the fourth-largest freelancer population in the world. Freelancers from different fields earned $549 million in the first quarter of the current financial year 2026-27.
