Women entrepreneurs in Karachi say rising prices and weak consumer spending are hurting business during the Eid shopping season, forcing many small retailers to keep their shops open longer despite declining sales.
At the Gul Tijarah Shopping Mall, several women who run small retail outlets reported a sharp drop in customer turnout compared with previous years. Traders say operating costs such as rent, transportation and inventory have increased, while festive sales have fallen by nearly 40 percent.
The slowdown comes as inflationary pressures continue to affect households across Pakistan. Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows consumer inflation rose to around 7 percent last month, the highest level in about 16 months, driven largely by higher electricity tariffs and food prices.
The situation worsened after fuel prices surged following the Middle East conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Petrol prices in Pakistan jumped by about Rs55 per liter, reaching roughly Rs321 per liter, which has raised transportation costs and pushed up the price of goods during the Eid al-Fitr shopping period.
Shop owners say the increase in costs has significantly reduced customers’ ability to spend on non-essential items such as gifts, garments and decorative products.
Women-run businesses remain relatively rare in Pakistan’s formal economy. According to data from the World Bank and the International Labour Organization, fewer than 5 percent of women in the country are engaged in formal entrepreneurship, while the female employment rate stood at about 23 percent in recent years.
Despite the economic pressures, many women say continuing their businesses is essential to support their families as living costs rise. Entrepreneurs say financial independence has become increasingly important, encouraging more women to step into business even during difficult economic times.
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