Rising fuel costs are hitting low-wage urban workers in Pakistan, leaving little for the basics or Eid celebrations
A Foodpanda delivery rider loads goods into his delivery box before dropping them off in Karachi, Pakistan, March 13, 2026. PHOTO: Reuters
As Eidul Fitr approaches, marking the end of Ramazan, couriers on Karachi’s streets say they are working longer hours but earning less, with little left over for the new clothes and treats that usually mark the festival.
A few weeks ago, 23-year-old Mohammad Mohsin could earn around Rs 1,500. per day.
Now, with the US-Israel war against Iran choking off oil supplies, petrol prices have risen to over Rs 320 per liter and Mohsin’s earnings have shrunk to around Rs 1,100.
“Before it was all mine,” he said. “Now a huge sum is spent on petrol.”
Rising fuel costs are hitting some of Pakistan’s lowest-paid urban workers the hardest, with many riders barely earning enough to cover the essentials, let alone Eid celebrations.
Read more: Fuel price increase pushes up weekly inflation
Reuters spoke to more than half a dozen riders in Karachi, all of whom said the fuel price hike had squeezed earnings ahead of Eid, a time when they are usually able to boost their income.
No fixed salary or benefits
Inflation, which had eased after hitting a record 38% in 2023, has accelerated to around 7%, pushing up the cost of food, rent and utilities. Many gig workers earn below the monthly minimum wage of Rs 32,000, with no fixed salary or benefits.
Austerity measures, school closures and work-from-home policies have reduced commuting, reducing income from travel, even as delivery demand rises to break the fast and Eid, which falls this week.
The platforms that rely on the workers, including grocery delivery app Foodpanda, say they are adjusting prices 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.
“We can’t afford clothes or shoes,” said Hezbollah, a 26-year-old delivery rider.
For many drivers, a normally joyous holiday has turned into a painful calculation of how many hours they must work to even enjoy a party.
