KARACHI — As Eidul Fitr approaches, marking the end of Ramazan, delivery riders on Karachi’s streets say they’re working longer hours but earning less, with little left for the new clothes and treats that usually mark the festival.
A few weeks ago, 23-year-old Mohammad Mohsin could make around Rs1,500 a day. Now, with the US-Israeli war on Iran choking oil supplies, petrol prices have surged above Rs320 per litre, and Mohsin’s earnings have shrunk to around Rs1,100.
“Before it was all mine,” he said. “Now, a huge sum goes into petrol.”
Lowest-Paid Hit Hardest
The rising cost of fuel is hitting some of Pakistan’s lowest-paid urban workers hardest, and many riders are making barely enough to cover essentials, let alone Eid celebrations.
Reuters spoke to more than half a dozen riders in Karachi, all of whom said the fuel price surge had squeezed earnings ahead of Eid—a time when they are usually able to boost their income.
Inflation and Wages
Inflation, which had eased after hitting a record 38 percent in 2023, has accelerated to around 7 percent, pushing up food, rent, and utility costs. Many gig workers earn below the Rs32,000 monthly minimum wage, with no fixed pay or benefits.
Austerity measures, school closures, and work-from-home policies have cut commuting trips, reducing ride-hailing income even as delivery demand rises for the breaking of fast and Eid, which falls this week.
Platform Response
The platforms that rely on the workers, including grocery delivery app Foodpanda, say they are adjusting pricing and taking other steps to boost riders’ earnings.
But workers say the measures have not kept pace with rising costs, and they are spending longer on the road with diminishing returns.
Eid Without Celebration
“We cannot afford clothes or shoes,” said Hizbullah, a 26-year-old delivery rider.
For many drivers, a usually joyous holiday has turned into a painful calculation on just how many hours they will have to work to enjoy any celebration at all.
Broader Context
The riders’ plight reflects the wider economic impact of the ongoing regional conflict, which has disrupted global oil supplies and sent fuel prices soaring in import-dependent Pakistan. With no immediate end to the conflict in sight, workers at the bottom of the economic ladder continue to bear the heaviest burden.
