Pakistan’s IT minister announces initiative enabling freelancers to receive PayPal payments 

Caretaker Federal Minister for IT & Telecom, Dr. Umar Saif, speaks at ITCN Asia 23, the International IT & Telecom show at Expo Center Karachi, Pakistan, on August 31, 2023. (Photo courtesy: X/@umarsaif/File)
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Updated 07 January 2024
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Pakistan’s IT minister announces initiative enabling freelancers to receive PayPal payments 

  • IT minister says Pakistani freelancers will receive payments in their bank accounts through PayPal wallets 
  • Says private companies will be able to use low-orbit satellites for communication services in the country 

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Information Technology Minister Dr. Umar Saif announced “good news” for Pakistani freelancers on Sunday, saying that they would “soon” be able to receive payments through the global online payment platform PayPal due to a new initiative by the government. 

Despite Pakistan being home to thousands of freelancers, global online payment platform PayPal refused to extend its services to the South Asian country in 2019. PayPal refused to operate in Pakistan, saying it was not included in the company’s three-year roadmap due to a lack of business opportunities, regulatory and compliance issues, as well as concerns around fraud and money laundering in the country. 

Pakistani freelancers have repeatedly demanded the government take measures to ensure global payment platforms Stripe and PayPal extend their services to the South Asian country. 

“The good news is that Pakistani freelancers will now be able to receive money through PayPal,” Saif said in a video message shared by Pakistan’s IT ministry. 

“And we have created this program in such a way that you don’t have to open a PayPal account in Pakistan to receive payments.” 

Saif explained that any person or entity can transfer payments from abroad online to Pakistani freelancers through their PayPal wallet accounts. The payment would be deposited in the freelancers’ bank accounts. 

The minister also said the government has approved a national space policy that allows private sector companies to use the latest technology of low-orbit satellites to provide communication services in Pakistan. 

“Our users will be able to avail Internet services anywhere,” he said. 

Over 650,000 Pakistanis have been exporting their IT services to different countries around the globe, either through freelance work or different IT companies, helping them earn around $200-250 million per month in export remittances to the country. Pakistan’s total IT export remittances were recorded at $2.6 billion in 2022. 


Chinese giant Hoymiles enters Pakistani market to provide high-tech energy storage solutions

Updated 05 January 2026
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Chinese giant Hoymiles enters Pakistani market to provide high-tech energy storage solutions

  • The development comes after Pakistan emerges as one of world’s fastest-growing solar markets, importing nearly 50GW of solar panels
  • Hoymiles entry will address long-hour backup and energy storage challenges facing Pakistan’s growing solar sector, local partner says

KARACHI: Renowned Chinese inverter manufacturer Hoymiles has entered Pakistan to provide high-tech, long-duration energy storage solutions for residential, commercial and industrial buildings by utilizing solar systems for electricity consumption, its Pakistani partner said on Monday.

Over the past few years, a large number of Pakistani industrial, commercial and residential electricity consumers have shifted to solar power systems to address frequent power outages and the rising cost of electricity. Reports indicate that net-metering capacity currently stands at 6,000 megawatts (MWs), while off-grid solar capacity has increased to 12,000 MWs in Pakistan by the end of 2025.

Hoymiles has formed strategic partnerships with Superstar, a renowned name in Pakistan’s automotive industry, and Harisun Energy, a new entrant in the energy solutions sector, to explore the Pakistani market, which is witnessing rapid growth in solar power adoption. In this regard, launch events were held simultaneously in Karachi and Lahore, unveiling multiple storage solutions produced by Hoymiles under the brands of Harisun Energy and Superstar.

Speaking as the chief guest at the Hoymiles launching ceremony in Karachi, Ali Rashid, advisor to Sindh chief minister on science and information technology (IT), said the provincial government appreciates foreign investors, particularly Chinese companies, establishing their industries, assembly, and distribution units in Karachi to meet the demand of the local market as well as export solutions to other countries.

“The government is working rigorously to facilitate foreign investors and companies to enhance their business and commercial activities, mainly in the technology and renewable energy sectors, to improve the living standards of the public and boost economic activity within the country and the province of Sindh,” he said.

The Sindh government is currently collaborating with various Chinese companies across different sectors, including logistics and renewable energy, and it welcomes further cooperation between the private and public sectors, according to Rashid.

The provincial government is considering establishing its own regulatory authority and transmission company, aimed at setting up a separate electricity grid system at the provincial level, which could provide affordable electricity to the masses and enhance connectivity to remote areas, preferably through renewable energy resources.

According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Pakistan has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing solar markets, importing approximately 50 GW of solar panels amid falling prices and widespread adoption across sectors in the first half of the year. This surge has made Pakistan the third-largest market for Chinese solar panels, a growth that has attracted global attention.

Superstar Solar Energy and Harisun Energy are introducing Hoymiles’ innovative range of solar inverters, energy storage solutions, and smart energy management systems to the Pakistani market. These solutions are designed to deliver reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy, empowering individuals and businesses to harness solar power as a clean and green energy source.

“Pakistan’s growing solar sector is facing a major challenge related to long-hour backup and energy storage solutions, which will soon be addressed with the entry of a global leader in energy solutions,” said Haris Jamsheed, CEO of Harisun Energy.

“Our partnership with the Chinese company will provide innovative energy storage solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial solar systems, enabling uninterrupted electricity supply at workplaces, factories, and homes during nighttime hours.”

Solarization has continued to expand across the country on a large scale due to prolonged load-shedding in remote areas and the high cost of electricity, which has become unaffordable for many households and industrial units, particularly in recent years.

“We have vowed to bring an energy revolution to Pakistan through innovative storage solutions, as the industrial and commercial sectors can enhance productivity with low-cost electricity backup systems,” said Saleem Umar, Chairman of Superstar.

“Affordable electricity will reduce operational costs at the domestic level, enabling exporters to compete more effectively in global markets.”