‘The country offers significant opportunities for digital platforms’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is a big and growing economy with enormous potential for digital and platform-based businesses, but structural barriers, contradictory tax policies and regulatory uncertainty are hampering the growth of its domestic gig economy.

This was the crux of the panel discussion titled “The Road Ahead: Building Pakistan’s Economic Mobility”, arranged by inDrive here on Thursday.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) country director for Pakistan said Pakistan’s large and growing market offered significant opportunities for digital platforms and gig workers, but these could only be fully realised through policies that provided both adequate worker protection and certainty for businesses and investors.

He emphasised that a balanced regulatory framework was needed to protect workers while ensuring that platforms could operate sustainably, attract investment and contribute to employment, exports and broader digital economic growth.

Awais Saeed, country manager for inDrive Pakistan, outlined the future of urban mobility in the country, emphasising vast untapped market potential, environmental sustainability through ride-pooling, broad economic spillovers, and incoming payment innovations.

Addressing the current adoption rates of ride-hailing in the country, Saeed pointed out a clear contrast between domestic and international markets. “Only 5 percent of Pakistani users go for ride-hailing, compared to approximately 20 percent globally,” Saeed noted, highlighting that Pakistan remains one of the most promising growth frontiers for digital mobility platforms.

To address urban congestion and environmental pressures, Saeed shared his vision for the evolution of transit in local cities. “Keeping in mind the environment, I think ride-hailing is moving towards ride-pooling,” he stated during the discussion, emphasising that higher vehicle occupancy will be essential for reducing emissions and easing road congestion.

Beyond direct transportation, Saeed spoke of the significant multiplier effect digital ride-hailing creates across the broader economy. “From auto manufacturers to oil change services and every auto-related industry, there is a spillover effect thanks to inDrive,” he explained, detailing how platform activity drives consistent business to local mechanics, spare parts suppliers, and vehicle service centers across the country.

Saeed also detailed inDrive’s active safety infrastructure designed to protect both passengers and drivers. The platform relies on proactive trip monitoring to flag unusual route pauses or deviations.

“We monitor the ride and message both parties in case of suspicious activity,” Saeed explained, while highlighting additional measures such as in-app audio recording and comprehensive health and accident insurance covering active trips.

Looking to the future of digital transactions, Saeed revealed plans to introduce additional payment mechanisms. “We are currently exploring multiple possibilities with the State Bank of Pakistan,” he said, aiming to streamline digital payments and reduce cash reliance for drivers and passengers across Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026