Upwork has quietly rolled out a new withdrawal option for Pakistani freelancers. According to a Facebook post, the platform now lets users send earnings directly to local mobile wallets in PKR. Five wallets currently appear on the list: JazzCash, Easypaisa, NayaPay, SadaPay, and Finja. The feature started appearing in Pakistani accounts on November 6.
Each withdrawal costs a flat $1.99, roughly PKR 551 at current rates.
That fee sits between Upwork’s existing options for Pakistan. Direct to Local Bank costs $0.99 but takes up to four business days. Meanwhile, wire transfers cost $50 and suit only large amounts. Payoneer works but adds its own conversion fees on top. The wallet option offers a middle ground: slightly more expensive than bank transfers, but the money typically arrives within minutes.
However, there is an important inconsistency worth noting. The in-app popup clearly shows the $1.99 fee. Yet Upwork’s official help pages currently say the fee “varies by wallet” without listing the fixed amount. This suggests the rollout may still be in a testing phase, even though real users can already set it up and withdraw.
Setting up the feature involves a few straightforward steps. Freelancers go to Settings, then Withdrawals, and add a new method. They select “Local Wallet” and enter their wallet details. Importantly, the name on the wallet must exactly match the verified name on Upwork. After setup, activation takes up to three days. Once active, withdrawals land almost instantly.
For Pakistan’s freelance economy, this matters more than a minor payment update might suggest. Pakistani freelancers earned a record $1.76 billion in FY2025-26, according to State Bank data. That figure jumped 78% from the previous year. The country now hosts roughly three million freelancers, making it the world’s fourth-largest freelance market. Upwork remains one of the top platforms they use alongside Fiverr.
Previously, most Pakistani freelancers relied on Payoneer as their primary cash-out route. That process involves withdrawing from Upwork to Payoneer, then from Payoneer to a local bank or JazzCash, each step carrying its own fees and delays. The direct wallet option eliminates that intermediary entirely. Consequently, freelancers keep more of their earnings and access them faster.
The rollout also reflects Upwork’s broader global expansion of payment options. However, the platform faces its own challenges. It laid off 25% of its workforce in May 2026 and reported declining revenue in Q2. Adding local payment methods in high-growth freelance markets like Pakistan may help it compete against platforms offering smoother payout experiences.
For now, freelancers should verify the fee on their own withdrawal screen before finalizing. The $1.99 figure comes from the in-app popup rather than the official help documentation, which has not caught up yet.
