Rising fuel costs hit low-paid urban workers in Pakistan, leaving little for basics or Eid celebrations
A Foodpanda delivery driver loads items into his delivery box before delivering them in Karachi, Pakistan, on March 13, 2026. PHOTO: Reuters
As Eidul Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, approaches, delivery workers on the streets of Karachi say they are working longer hours but earning less, leaving little left for the new clothes and sweets that usually mark the festival.
A few weeks ago, 23-year-old Mohammad Mohsin could earn around Rs 1,500 a day.
Now, with the US-Israel war against Iran choking off oil supplies, gasoline prices have risen above Rs 320 per liter and Mohsin’s profits have fallen to around Rs 1,100.
“Before it was all mine,” he said. “Now a huge sum is spent on gasoline.”
The rising cost of fuel is hitting some of Pakistan’s lowest-paid urban workers hardest, with many commuters barely earning enough to cover essentials, let alone Eid celebrations.
Read more: The increase in fuel prices raises weekly inflation
Reuters He spoke to more than half a dozen motorcyclists in Karachi, all of whom said rising fuel prices had reduced profits ahead of Eid, a time when they can normally increase their income.
No fixed salary or benefits
Inflation, which had slowed after hitting a record 38% in 2023, has accelerated to around 7%, raising the costs of food, rent and utilities. Many gig workers earn less than the monthly minimum wage of 32,000 rupees, with no fixed salary or benefits.
Austerity measures, school closures and work-from-home policies have reduced daily commutes, reducing ride-hailing revenue, even as demand for deliveries rises for the breaking of the fast and Eid, which falls this week.
Platforms that rely on workers, including grocery delivery app Foodpanda, say they are adjusting prices and taking other steps to boost user revenue.
But workers say the measures have not kept pace with rising costs and they are spending more time on the road.
“We can’t afford clothes or shoes,” said Hezbollah, a 26-year-old delivery driver.
For many drivers, a normally joyful vacation has become a painful calculation of how many hours they will have to work to enjoy any celebration.
