The Pakistan Freelancers’ Association has planned an initiative to empower journalists with freelancing skills in collaboration with press clubs and associations across Pakistan, following its first capacity-building session at the Karachi Press Club.

The nationwide initiative aims to equip Pakistani journalists with in-demand freelancing skills, enabling them to diversify income streams, build global clients, and generate sustainable income in a rapidly changing media economy.

In this regard, PAFLA recently organised a ‘Learn and Earn Session’ at the Karachi Press Club as part of its Empowering Journalists series in the digital world, which saw an overwhelming turnout from press club members.

PAFLA Chairman Ibrahim Amin said the programme is designed to help journalists translate their newsroom strengths, research, storytelling, verification, interviewing, and beat expertise, into paid opportunities across the global digital marketplace.

“Journalists already have the most valuable currency in the digital economy: credibility, communication, and clarity,” said Amin. “Our mission is to empower Pakistani journalists with practical freelancing skills so they can earn with dignity, stay independent, and thrive in the modern world of work.”

“Freelancing is not a ‘side hustle’ anymore; it’s a full professional ecosystem,” he said, adding, “When journalists understand platforms, pricing, portfolios, and global client expectations, they don’t just survive disruption, they lead it.”

The initiative comes at a time when Pakistan’s media industry is facing challenges like job cuts, closures, and salary delays, putting intense financial pressure on reporters, producers, editors, and digital teams.

Speaking on the occasion, Karachi Press Club Secretary Suhail Afzal said journalists in Karachi are talented and have diverse skill sets, from content writing to photography, and from video editing to documentary production, but members have very limited exposure to working on different freelancing platforms.

The KPC body has developed a computer lab and a digital studio for its members and is now focusing on skill development through partnerships to empower the journalists financially, he added. “We are open to partnerships for journalists’ skill development with universities, NGOs, and other organisations at the local and global levels,” he concluded.