My name is Waqas Saleem, and I come from a very small village just 3 kilometers from Hujra Shah Muqeem, District Okara. Our village has only 15 homes, but within those simple surroundings, my biggest dreams took shape.
After graduating from Government College University Faisalabad, Sahiwal Campus, I moved to Lahore in 2019 and stayed at a friend’s hostel in search of work. I applied to many companies and received a few offers, but the salary was only PKR 5,000. I knew I had valuable skills, even though I had not yet figured out how to turn them into real opportunities. After a short and difficult stay, with limited funds and growing pressure, I returned home feeling disappointed but still determined.
Once back home, I decided to restart my freelancing journey. During my university days, one of my teachers had advised me to create a Fiverr account, so I reopened the same account. What followed was one of the toughest phases of my life. I sent over a thousand proposals and received no response. Not a single project. I was close to giving up and accepting that low-paying job.
At that moment, my mother encouraged me to try one more time. Her belief in me was stronger than my doubts. I sent a few more proposals, and Alhamdulillah, I received my first $5 project. That amount was small, but its impact was huge. It gave me confidence and renewed hope. I kept learning, improving my skills, and staying consistent. By the end of 2019, I had earned nearly $5,000, and in 2020, Alhamdulillah, my earnings crossed $50,000 through Fiverr and direct clients.
The challenges did not stop there. In my area, there was no reliable internet service. I depended on a Zong Bolt+ device that often stopped working in the evenings, which was the busiest time for client communication. Despite slow speeds and frequent interruptions, I continued working every night because quitting was never an option.
Today, in 2026, I am proud to be a top-rated freelancer on Fiverr, with over 3,000 successful website projects and long-term international clients. I also manage a team of designers and SEO specialists through my digital agency, eDesign Space, formerly known as Ziki Soft. Alongside my work, I teach freelancing free of cost to friends and aspiring individuals so they can build their own careers.
Over the years, with consistency and dedication, I have now earned more than $1 million through freelancing. This journey has also been recognized at a national level. I was honored with the Best Freelancer of the Year award by Connected Pakistan for three consecutive years, 2021, 2022, and 2023, which has been one of the proudest moments of my career. In addition to that, I was also featured in the Coffee Table Book published by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), where I was recognized among the top 100 freelancers in Pakistan based on success, earnings, and impact. These achievements are not just milestones for me, they are a reminder of how far a person can come with belief, persistence, and the right mindset.
I am deeply grateful to my father, my mother, and my entire family for being my strongest support system. My father’s silent sacrifices and hard work laid the foundation for my journey. My mother’s encouragement, belief, and prayers carried me through moments when I was ready to give up. My family trusted my choices, supported me during failures, and celebrated even my smallest achievements. Everything I am today is because of their love, support, and prayers.
This journey taught me that your background does not limit your future, your passion shapes it, and with faith, hard work, and support, ordinary beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
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