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Some events look small on the outside but carry big meaning inside.
On October 5, 2025, freelancers in Faisalabad came together for the city’s first self-funded meetup — a milestone for the growing community.
Self-funded meetups create a sense of ownership and equality among freelancers. When everyone contributes, the event stays authentic, community-led, and free from outside influence.
It was simple, small, and quiet, yet full of hope. A premium yet subsidized, sponsored yet self-funded, small but meaningful freelancers’ meetup was held on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at a private guest house in Faisalabad, Pakistan — marking the first of its kind.
This first meet-up was sponsored by Azam Ishaq, the Founder and CEO of Shmai.com, who believed in the idea of freelancers coming together as a community.
Including three hosts, ten people attended the event. Around 60% showed up, and the rest, about 40%, could not make it but informed us in advance. That honesty made our work easier and our event smoother.
I reached the venue 30 minutes early to welcome everyone. The place was a private guest house, clean, calm, and perfect for focused conversations.
We wanted to start on time, but as we all know, punctuality is not our national strength. Some came late, and some got lost finding the place. That is why we decided to fix a permanent meetup location, so freelancers always know where to come next time.
When everyone finally arrived, we welcomed them with cold water and smiles. Then began the most beautiful part of the evening, introductions.
Each participant shared his story, not just of work, but of struggle, learning, and dreams. WPKitchen will soon publish their full stories, but here is a glimpse of what happened that day.
1. Sohail Anwar
Our first speaker was Sohail Anwar, the owner of the guest house where we gathered. He started his career as a builder, constructing and selling homes. He also worked a government job before returning to real estate. Today, he owns two furnished homes for short-term rentals, offering private rooms and complete houses. He even arranges local tours and homemade meals for guests. Sohail is not just a builder of homes; he is a builder of comfort.
2. Muhammad Ikram
Next came Muhammad Ikram, a graphic designer with years of experience in Faisalabad’s press market. He knows the world of design, from signage and display boards to wallpapers and branding. He represents the creative heartbeat of the city.
3. Irfan Waheed
Irfan Waheed introduced himself as an Oracle Developer. His office is in Citi Mall, near D-Ground, the tech center of Faisalabad. Irfan has developed POS software for major retail stores in the city. Behind his calm voice was a story of silent dedication, a man who prefers results over noise.
4. Muhammad Muhammad Atif Naseem
Then came Muhammad Atif, who shared his journey from journalism to technology. He now dreams of creating an online portal where people can easily find doctors for animals. It is a unique idea that could help thousands. Every meetup needs someone like Atif, a dreamer who sees what others do not.
5. Haris Ilyas
Haris Ilyas, founder of Turbo Logic Academy, teaches digital marketing both online and offline. He has trained more than 300 students so far. He believes teaching is the best way to give back to the community, and his calm confidence proves it.
6. Muhammad Usman
Muhammad Usman is a young WordPress developer, passionate about both front-end and back-end development. He works at a local software house and freelances part-time. His story shows that with consistency, even small beginnings can lead to big opportunities.
7. Usman Musadiq
Usman Musadiq is an experienced SEO professional and runs his own digital marketing agency.
He and I once worked together back in 2012. Today, he leads a team at DGSol, managing SEO and SEM for major brands like Dmoose, Orbit Software, and others. He shared how years of hard work taught him patience, precision, and leadership. His story reminded us that freelancing is not just about skill; it is about trust and growth.
8. Majid Sheikh
Finally, Majid Sheikh spoke, a veteran programmer with over 20 years of experience.
He now focuses on Python API development, microservices, and cloud computing. His eyes sparkled when he spoke about Docker and DevOps, tools he believes have changed the way technology works. He explained how these innovations help create faster, more scalable systems for global clients. Majid’s story was a bridge between experience and innovation, a perfect note to end on.
After the introductions, we began serving a small high tea. The menu included chicken burgers, pasta, fries, and soft drinks. Later, we served warm milk tea, which added a cozy touch to the evening.
Once everyone was done, we gathered in the hall for a group photo — a simple picture, but full of stories and smiles. Before leaving, we thanked every guest for joining and invited them to come again for the next meetup, this time bringing one more freelancer along.
As people began to leave, we walked them to the door, exchanged goodbyes, and watched them fade into the night. When the last guest had gone, we closed the door, knowing everyone was returning to their own worlds but carrying a shared hope to meet again. After settling all the bills, both hosts, Adnan and Pomy, said goodbye to our third host, Sohail, and headed home.
Every community begins with a conversation, and every big change starts with ten people who dare to show up.