Retail hubs online — a journey to formalisation

E-commerce has revolutionised the global economy. An unprecedented boom in the e-commerce industry was observed after the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, the way businesses operate and consumers shop has been reshaped. With the sector’s rapid growth worldwide, Pakistan is no exception to this transformative trend. The country’s e-commerce market is expanding steadily, with platforms like Temu entering the local market. However, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development e-commerce index, only five per cent of internet users and 1pc of the total population in Pakistan engage in online shopping. This figure is far below Pakistan’s regional counterparts. This untapped potential makes e-commerce a viable solution to some of Pakistan’s economic challenges, including the persistent issue of an informal economy.