Muhammad Saleem

The influx of Chinese products is fast changing the e-commerce landscape in Pakistan, as people are getting affordable, trendy and quality products on their doorstep due to this transformation, reports WealthPK. Talking to WealthPK, Adnan Masood, a software developer, said he used to place orders on AliExpress, a giant online store owned by a Chinese company, as the platform offered affordable, durable and quality products. He said getting Chinese products was once a daunting task, but now Chinese sellers were dispatching them easily. "I am earning a handsome amount by selling Chinese products to my clients, including friends and customers," he said. Sharing his product-finding strategy, Adnan said he used to search AliExpress daily for two to three hours and find trendy products, particularly gadgets, as such items were in high demand in Pakistan. Chinese products are helping us bolster our business, but the logistic companies are hampering our efforts, he added. Elaborating on the issue, he said most of the time, the dispatchers of courier companies would not deliver parcels and returned them with fake remarks on the return slip. He said it's mandatory for the dispatchers to mention reasons on the return slip for not delivering a parcel.

Obeid Babar, who imports Chinese products by visiting China, told WealthPK that the key drivers behind boosting e-commerce in Pakistan were the affordability and accessibility of Chinese items. "The customers need affordable, trendy and quality products, and Chinese manufacturers focus on the buyers' intention. We are doing a good business by importing products which are in high demand," Obeid said. "The popularity of online marketplaces and platforms is helping Pakistani consumers to explore a huge range of Chinese products ranging from kitchen tools to gadgets, electronics, accessories, clothing and much more. They are accessing such items at competitive prices," he added. Zain Malik, a digital marketing expert, also earns a handsome amount monthly by running a product-related advertising campaign on social media. Talking to WealthPK, he said the availability of Chinese products was promoting digital buying behavior. Pakistan has yet to tap the potential of e-commerce, as trust deficit bars consumers from placing orders online. He said scores of people had defrauded the consumers, and this was happening, as the country lacked an active body that could catch the fraudsters.

"Believe it or not, the existence of Chinese items is visibly shaping up Pakistan's economy, everyday life, and infrastructure as well," Zain Malik said. Just log on to any major e-commerce platform, and you will surely find the Chinese items which have become a major source of growth in the e-commerce industry, he said, adding that the affordability of Chinese products was appealing to the price-conscious consumers. Sharing his experience with WealthPK, Hamid Mehmood, an avid online shopper, said owing to the high prices of products he used to hesitate to place orders online. However, with the influx of Chinese products, he was not only purchasing but also selling items, including toys. "I post videos and images of toys to attract my customers online. I calculate the price, add my profit and then upload the videos online to sell," Hamid said. Obeid Babar said Chinese manufacturers were offering a huge range of products, which was the driving force behind the success of online selling in Pakistan. The Chinese products are catering to the needs of the consumers due to which the Chinese entrepreneurs are bolstering their businesses in Pakistan and globally.

inpCredit: INP-WealthPk