Comment by Riaz Haq on April 24, 2013 at 1:56pm

Here's a Mashable.com post on Pak Internet-based business potential:

Early Days

Building Internet businesses has traditionally not come easily to Pakistan. Our first e-commerce venture began in 2001 with the establishment of Abid Beli's Beliscity.pk. Although initially started as an information website for mobiles and computers, it soon turned into an e-commerce store as a result of its growing popularity.

You might then expect this venture to have turned out a success story, with Beliscity ending up being the equivalent to Amazon in Pakistan. Unfortunately this was not the case. Owing to many complications and troubles, not only was Beliscity forced to changed its name to Gulf Dealz, but it also fell into obscurity competing with countless other players in the online retail arena.

SEE ALSO: Meet Plan9, Pakistan’s First Technology Startup Incubator

Arguably Pakistan’s greatest Internet success story is Rozee.pk. Founded in 2007 by Monis Rahman as an add-on to his main business, Rozee has grown to become Pakistan’s premier portal for jobs. This journey was also not an easy one at all. When Monis was trying to raise funds through foreign investors in the second half of 2007, Pakistan was in the news almost daily with images of the bombing due to Benazir Bhutto’s arrival and her subsequent assassination.
3 Hot E-Commerce Startups to Watch in Pakistan

Those, however, were just the early days and the environment seems much more conducive to starting e-commerce ventures now. Last year will go on record as a landmark year for Internet businesses in Pakistan as three very different and important companies launched their own e-commerce portals:

TCS Connect is the online portal of TCS Couriers, Pakistan’s most reliable and wide-reaching logistics company. In May 2012, TCS launched its online shopping portal, TCS Connect, which has products like computers, mobile phones, home and kitchen appliances and even automobile accessories.

Labels eStore is the online store for Pakistan’s largest high-end fashion outlets. With its product lines covering the biggest fashion designers in Pakistan, it targets high-end consumers in the local market and the Pakistani diaspora across the world.

Daraz.pk represents the fashion vertical of the global venture developers, Rocket Internet. The company did not enter into our local online market arena at the behest of Pakistani entrepreneurs who sought funding, but rather as a ‘top-down’ decision by Oliver Samwer to capture the developing Pakistani market in the long-term.

The establishment and subsequent success of these and other businesses have led to a greater focus on e-commerce sites. They may be other clothing brands expanding their businesses online, logistics companies either starting online stores themselves or providing tools and consultancy for brick-and-mortar retail owners to start a digital side to their existing businesses, or young entrepreneurs themselves wanting to get into this nascent business.

Whatever the case, online stores are here to stay in Pakistan and will only attain a ...

http://mashable.com/2013/04/24/pakistan-tech-entrepreneurs/

Comment by Riaz Haq on April 26, 2013 at 6:13pm

Here's Toronto Globe & Mail on Karachi's stock market:

The seaside metropolis of Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city, its commercial hub and a city plagued by violence. Adding to the already volatile mix is the Pakistan Taliban, which is now firmly embedded in Karachi. But amidst the mayhem, businesses are thriving and capital markets are soaring.

In old Karachi, behind metal gates, barriers and security checks is a low-rise office block from which Canadian Nadeem Naqvi steers the country’s largest stock market: the Karachi Stock Exchange, with a market capitalization of $41.5-billion.

Mr. Naqvi moved to Pakistan in 2005 and took on the managing director job in 2011 with a mandate to modernize the exchange.

The KSE has a market capitalization of $41.5-billion – a tenth of the size of the Bombay stock market. Last year, it ranked among the top emerging markets in Asia.

With historic democratic elections scheduled for May 11, Mr. Naqvi spoke to The Globe and Mail about his optimism about Karachi and Pakistan.

What has it been like steering the exchange – it must be a roller coaster?

In one word: exhilarating. Not without sleepless nights, I can assure you. … On the political front there have been ups and downs, although I was lucky enough to be in an era when we had uninterrupted democratic set-up – the quality of that democratic set-up as a point aside. But that was a first for Pakistan. And now we are in the process of the first democratic transfer of power from one democratic set-up to the next … We have faced direct backlash as a result of Pakistan’s role in terms of war on terror and the backlash Pakistanis have to face every day. But within that dire dynamics you have seen a stock market that has performed incredibly well last year. It was up 50 per cent in local currency terms – the KSE100 Index – and it was up 36 per cent in U.S. dollar terms making it one of the top three best performing emerging markets in Asia last year.....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadian-director-of-kara...

Comment by Riaz Haq on June 14, 2013 at 5:13pm

Here's a Daily Times report on PUMA shoe store in Karachi:

KARACHI: PUMA, a leading International sports brand on Friday launched a new outlet in Dolmen Mall, Karachi. This outlet is so far the biggest one in Pakistan out of a total of four in the major cities of the country, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. PUMA Pakistan’s inception was in 2010 and the brand is incorporated under the leadership of Atif Husain and Shahid Choudhary with a vision to develop international retail landscape in Pakistan. PUMA designs and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is committed to working in ways that contribute to the world by supporting creativity, sustainability and peace, and by staying true to the principles of being fair, honest, positive and creative in decisions made and actions taken.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013%5C06%5C15%5Cstor...

Comment by Riaz Haq on September 8, 2013 at 4:36pm

With the rise of Pakistan's middle class and growing brand recognition among consumers, Pakistani companies are establishing their own brands.

Some of the Pakistani brands include Engro Foods, Haleeb Foods, Shezan juices, Rooh Afza, Tapal tea, Shan spices, JJ (Junaid Jamshed clothing), Gul Ahmad (textiles), K&N chicken, Tibet Snow cream, Kala Kola hair color, Dawlance, Shahi supri,

http://www.ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol._2_No._13_Special_Issue_July_2...

http://www.campaignasia.com/Article/256186,pakistan-focus-top-10-br...

Comment by Riaz Haq on March 11, 2014 at 8:30am

Here's a WSJ story on a high-priced designer Peshawari chappal knock-off:

Imitation, it is often said, is the sincerest form of flattery, but many in Pakistan failed to take the compliment when British designer Paul Smith released a new sandal bearing close resemblance to the country’s Peshawari chappal (slipper), called it Robert, and sold it for $595.

The company received a torrent of abuse on social media for the design on Monday.

While the Pakistani sandal sells in markets across the country for around $6, Paul Smith’s version of the shoe is on sale for a 9,816% mark up.

Most of the criticism on Twitter focused on the sandal’s price, while others called for Paul Smith to give credit to the shoe’s Pakistani origin.
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The Peshawari chappal is originally from the northwestern town of Peshawar, but is today manufactured across the country. You can find the shoe from Karachi to Gilgit and on the feet of markets traders, government officials and young bridegrooms.

“It is as much of a part of our national identity as is the chicken tikka in our traditional cuisine,” said journalist Madeeha Syed of the shoe in an article for local English-language newspaper, Dawn.

Paul Smith’s version of the sandal is not the first time that the quintessentially Pakistani shoe has ventured overseas. A number of Pakistan-based online outlets already sell the sandal to customers around the world. They mostly target the widespread Pakistani diaspora, but the sandal has also proved very popular in France, says Sidra Qasim, co-founder of Hometown, a Pakistan-based online shop that sells Peshawari chappals.

“They like it because it has quality and good design and it is having a good impact,” she told The Wall Street Journal.

Hometown was started in 2010 by Ms. Qasim and Waqas Ali with the goal of providing a bigger market to local shoemakers in Pakistan. All the shoes sold by Hometown are made by a small group of craftsman in a small village in Punjab province, and are sold via the company’s site in 17 different countries. The biggest markets are India, the U.K. and France, said Ms. Qasim.

Despite the outrage from Pakistan’s vocal Twitter population, Ms. Qasim said that she thought it was mostly positive that Paul Smith had decided to use the Pakistani design in his summer collection.

“One thing we are very concerned about is that Hometown is about promoting Pakistani artisans to the global level, so at least they [Paul Smith] should give the right credit,” she said, “We are really happy, on the other side, that someone on the global level has recognized this design”

Hometown’s version of the Peshawari chappal starts at $90 – still a steep markup from the average market price. Another Peshawar-based online chappal shop, Zalmay, sells the sandals for around £27 ($45.)

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2014/03/11/how-paul-smith-sandal...

Comment by Riaz Haq on April 14, 2015 at 9:30pm

International shoe manufacturer and retailer, Clarks, entered Pakistan by launching its first ever store in Karachi on April, 11. The expertly crafted footwear is now available at The Forum mall. The stores are also being opened up in Lahore and Islamabad.

The brand has a unique heritage of almost 200 years in remarkable shoe design. Shoeaholics, both men and women, will get finest retail experience with the brand’s signature collections and styles. Nancy Huang, C&J Clark International President of Asia Pacific, said, “It’s always great to see a new store open, especially when it’s in such a good position within a premium shopping mall. The Pakistan team and our partners have done a magnificent job in setting up the store. We are in great company here; this mall is an impressive shopping destination with a fantastic mix of brand names and customers. We are delighted to be a part of it.”

The brand is also well-known for its celebrity clientele and collaborations with high-fashion designers. It has been successful in becoming the leading shoe company in the UK and a global business in over 100 markets worldwide. With their latest franchise in Pakistan, the brand intends to penetrate the markets and set impeccable shoe-trends.

One of the leading groups in the textile industry, Umer Group of Companies is behind the successful launch of the franchise. The store was inaugurated by the acting Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission Gillian Atkinson. The event was followed by a fashion showcase. Sleekly styled, renowned models adorned the latest in-store collection.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2015.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/869796/british-footwear-steps-into-paki...

Comment by Riaz Haq on September 25, 2017 at 8:18pm

#Pakistan’s first #global #fashion billionaire? #Khaadi #Karachi #textiles #rmg #garments https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/09/25/pakistans-first-fash... … via @profitpk

The year 2017 is the first time the Pakistani clothing market hit Rs1 trillion in consumer spending (according to an analysis conducted by Profit based on data from the Household Integrated Economic Surveys, published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics). It is also the year the biggest brand in the industry – Khaadi – learnt about both the benefits and the costs of being the market leader, with a very public labour dispute and a string of negative stories published about it in the print media.

In the nearly two decades it has existed, Khaadi has gone from being a small store on the corner of a narrow street in Karachi’s Zamzama commercial area to become the industry-defining brand in Pakistan’s retail fashion sector. On the way, it has created, expanded, and conquered market that was virtually nonexistent prior to Khaadi’s launch in December 1999. Yet even as it stands as the clear champion of a rapidly growing market, Khaadi’s future has never been more precarious. In the next year or two, the actions of Khaadi’s management, particularly founder and CEO Shamoon Sultan, will determine whether it becomes a true national (and possibly global) corporate icon, or whether it will wither and fade away into obscurity.

While Khaadi clearly started as a passion project focused on selling khaddar clothing, it did not stay that way for long. Shamoon and Saira may have an artistic passion for the products they create, but they are clearly commercially focused as well, launching women’s clothing lines, pret, and lawn. The company sells both readymade garments and unstitched fabric.

The company began expanding its presence, first within Karachi, then on to Lahore and Islamabad, followed by eight other cities across Pakistan. By 2010, Khaadi felt confident enough to make its first foray into international retail, setting up a in Dubai, followed quickly by a store in Abu Dhabi. In 2013, Khaadi began opening stores in the UK.

While Khaadi has been remarkably successful, its success needs to be placed in a broader context: the rise of the Pakistani middle class, specifically the rise of the working woman, who has enabled families to rapidly expand their household incomes and move out of subsistence living and towards a truly consumption-oriented economic existence.

Pakistan’s female labour force participation rates have increased dramatically, from 16.2% in 2001 to 23.4% in 2015, the latest year for which data is available from the Labour Force Survey conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. As a result, household incomes have risen to Rs34,707 ($333) per month, according to data from the 2016 Household Integrated Economic Survey. That represents an annualized increase of 9.3% per year over the past 15 years (5.7% in US dollar terms).

The rapid rise in spending on clothing also appears to be causing a shift in patterns of what types of clothes Pakistanis buy. In 2002, according to PBS data, more than 68% of total spending on clothes went to buying unstitched cloth and other accessories and only 13% of spending went to readymade clothes. In 2016, the proportion of consumer spending going to readymade clothes was 33%, with unstitched cloth and accessories going down to 50% of total spending.

Readymade garments are, by far, the fastest growing segment of consumer spending on clothing and footwear, growing at an astonishing 24.2% per year (20.1% in US dollar terms) over the past 15 years to reach a market size of Rs356 billion ($3.4 billion) in fiscal year 2017, according to Profit’s analysis of PBS data. The overall clothing market, as noted at the beginning of this article, has reached Rs1.1 trillion ($10.3 billion) during that same period.

Comment by Riaz Haq on October 10, 2017 at 5:54pm

#Pakistan Develops a Taste for Fast Food - #Pizza Hut to double no of restaurants. Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-10/buying-into-paki...

Pizza Hut to double outlets to 150 over five years in Pakistan
Two-thirds of the world’s sixth-largest nation is under 30

Food franchises are booming across Pakistan’s big cities as incomes swell and more women enter the workforce, leaving them with less time and inclination to fulfill the traditional role of cooking for the family. Almost two-thirds of the 200 million population are younger than 30 and cultural attitudes are changing in the Islamic Republic, helping make it the fastest-growing retail market.

Eating out will soon become a "necessity over the weekdays,” said Anwar, whose Crescent Star Foods Pvt. plans to increase its number of franchised restaurants, including California-based Fatburger, to 100 in a decade from less than a dozen. "Home-cooked food will become a luxury over the weekend.”

Yum! Brands Inc.’s Pizza Hut also plans to double its Pakistan stores to as many as 150 over the next five years and will list locally in that period. Foodpanda, backed by Germany’s Rocket Internet SE, expects to deliver meals to 2 million hungry Pakistanis each month by 2021 from about 400,000 now.

The country’s food delivery industry will more than double to $2 billion by that time, said Nauman Sikandar Mirza, Foodpanda’s chief executive officer.

More Money

Disposable incomes have doubled since 2010 and about 40 percent of household expenditure is on food. That’s more than Indonesia and Turkey, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Spending in Pakistan is bolstered by the lowest interest rates in 44 years as the pace of inflation has halved since 2014.

“Pakistan has one of the youngest populations in the world and the increase in fast food retail along with other retail segments partly reflects the stabilizing economic backdrop,” said Rahul Bajoria, a senior economist at Barclays Plc in Singapore. “Similar trends are being observed in the rest of South Asia as wel

However, there are economic headwinds which may dent the food boom. A deteriorating external position puts at risk the government’s targeted 6 percent expansion for the year through June 30, which would be the fastest pace in more than a decade, said Bajoria. Pakistan’s imports hit a record in May and the current account gap more than doubled to $2.6 billion in July and August from a year earlier.

Even so, not many are deterred.

“The market is growing, people have more money to spend on fast food -- we plan to open more outlets,” said Omar Qadri, chief operating officer at One Potato Two Potato, which has about 50 restaurants with most in Pakistan’s main cities of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. “We are still not in a lot of places like Peshawar, Multan. These are big markets we haven’t even entered yet.”

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