There is a lot of potential for online businesses in Pakistan as this industry is yet to be tapped
QUETTA: The increasing death rate from Covid-19 has created a sense of fear in the minds of most people which prevents them from leaving their houses. The country is divided into people who are constantly travelling and people who have strictly quarantined themselves inside their houses. While some of us are still brave enough to take regular visits to the neighbourhood grocery store, others are opting for food delivery services online. There has been a general rise worldwide in the usage of such online services that provide everything you need at your doorstep. However, there is a dearth of online delivery services in Pakistan, specifically in Karachi, which makes it hard to meet the demands of such a massive population.
Abroad, people have a variety of options to choose from. While in Pakistan these facilities may be too expensive for the majority of the population to afford, it may still do some benefit if the system is made simple and efficient enough so that anyone with a cell phone is able to avail the facility with ease. This way, the images we are seeing of people standing in large groups outside stores might decrease. Such services and startups should be initiated in Karachi and the layman should also be educated about the benefit of using such a service. There is a lot of potential for online businesses in Pakistan as this industry is yet to be tapped. The future will definitely see a rise in online communities giving the country an opportunity for much investment.
While many enjoy the luxury of receiving the necessary items from the comfort of their homes, for people delivering and packing these items, it is a tricky situation. They are protected from the throngs of people rushing into stores and hoarding supplies, while at the same time are vulnerable because of their constant house to house movement when delivering packages. It is important to keep such people into consideration as well.
Farzana Baig
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2020.
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