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ABR 2025 26(Entrepreneurial)printed 22 · PDF 32
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Businesses
Alright, picture this—Karachi’s packed
bazaars, Lahore’s twisting alleys,
Faisalabad’s non-stop noise.
Everywhere you look, someone’s
hustling: a dude frying samosas on the
corner, a lady sewing kids’ clothes in her
living room, tiny kiryana shops
squeezed between motorbikes and
rickshaws. These aren’t just side gigs;
they’re the beating heart of Pakistan’s
economy. Economists have a fancy
name for it—the “informal sector”.
Basically, it means you’re off the books.
No taxes, no paperwork, pretty much
invisible to the government unless
you’re causing trouble. For ages,
business here was all about cash,
gossip, and who you knew. You needed
a loan? Good luck—maybe your chacha
would help out, but banks? Forget it.
Then, outta nowhere, the digital wave
hit. It’s not some loud, flashy revolution
—just a slow takeover by cheap Android
phones, patchy Wi-Fi, and a handful of
apps everyone’s suddenly obsessed
with. But man, it’s changing everything.
The Real MVP: The Informal Economy
People love to talk about Pakistan’s “big”
economy, but honestly, this informal
stuff? It’s gigantic. Some folks say it’s
over a third of the country’s whole
economy—maybe more if you fudge
the numbers a bit. We’re talking millions
—mechanics, chai walas, home bakers,
the guy who fixes your bike. This is
where the jobs are, especially for
people who can’t land a “proper” job
with a desk and air conditioning.
Problem is, most of these businesses
are stuck in second gear. No paperwork
means no loans, no insurance, no safety
net if something goes sideways.
Bankers won’t even look at you. You
wanna grow? Good luck; you’re pretty
much on your own.
Digital Tools: Game On
Then, things started getting interesting.
Even in neighborhoods where the
electricity’s out half the day, you’ll see
smartphones everywhere. People might
not have running water, but they’re
scrolling Facebook. And with that,
mobile payments, e-commerce, and
Insta
shops
started
popping
up
everywhere.
The
biggest
game-
changer?
Mobile
payment
apps.
Easypaisa, JazzCash, Sadapay—they’re
everywhere. Now, instead of dealing
with crumpled notes and “Aray, change
nahin hai,” you just tap your phone. No
more worrying about getting mugged
on the way home with a pocket full of
cash. Plus, you can actually see how
much
you’re
making—no
more
guessing.And don’t even get me started
on social media. WhatsApp groups for
orders, TikTok for marketing, Instagram
for flaunting your handiwork. You can
run a whole business off your phone—
no shop rent, no landlord breathing
down
your
neck.
Some
lady
in
Gujranwala can sell her embroidered
dupattas to someone in Peshawar, no
problem. Then there’s Daraz, Bazaar,
and a bunch of other platforms. All you
need is a half-decent photo and a data
package,
and
suddenly
your
tiny
business has nationwide reach. Wild,
right?
Real People, Real Glow-Ups
This isn’t just theory, either. Look at
Amina from Rawalpindi. She used to
bake cakes for her neighbors—nothing
fancy.
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Enterprise Edition