The Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) and Dr Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide exclusive healthcare discounts to eligible association members, including a 35% discount on routine laboratory tests.
The partnership aims to improve access to affordable healthcare for Pakistan’s growing freelance workforce, which often lacks the medical benefits and insurance coverage 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 agreement, eligible PAFLA members will receive discounts on routine laboratory tests, alongside special concessions on specialised tests, diagnostic imaging, MRI and CT scans, ultrasound, physiotherapy, dentistry and other healthcare services.
PAFLA Expands Welfare Benefits for Freelancers
The initiative forms part of PAFLA’s broader efforts to strengthen social protection, welfare benefits and facilitation opportunities for freelancers and digital workers across Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Ibrahim Amin, Chief Growth Officer and Strategy at PAFLA, said freelancing was becoming an increasingly popular livelihood worldwide, particularly in Pakistan, where skilled professionals were embracing independent digital work.
YKP Foundation Holds Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar and Excellence Awards 2026 in Karachi
She highlighted the lack of healthcare and medical coverage among freelancers despite their growing contribution to the economy.
“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,” Farheen further said.
She added that the association remained committed to improving freelancers’ welfare and quality of life through access to healthcare, financial services, professional development and other support initiatives.
Fatima also encouraged freelancers across Pakistan to join PAFLA and benefit from its expanding range of services, partnerships and incentives designed to improve financial security and living standards.
Pakistan’s Freelance Economy Continues to Grow
According to estimates cited in the report, Pakistan has nearly three million full-time and part-time freelancers, making it the fourth-largest freelance workforce globally.
Freelancers across different sectors earned $549 million during the first quarter of the current financial year 2026-27.
The PAFLA-Dr Essa partnership seeks to address healthcare challenges faced by this growing workforce while expanding access to affordable medical and diagnostic services.
