How To Navigate The Expected Effects Of Inflation In Pakistan

Government-level issues, alongside a stipulation of the recent global pandemic disaster, and floods, the economic state of Pakistan paints a very morbid picture.

Although there might be a sliver of hope alluding to recovery from the effects of inflation, we need to maintain our due diligence.

This post highlights some of the imminent effects of inflation, followed by the impacts of inflation on the economy in Pakistan and vice versa. Further on, we’ll talk about how to mitigate the effects of inflation as a solopreneur or a small to medium-sized business owner in Pakistan.

Let’s get started.

What Do You Need To Know About The Effects of Inflation In Pakistan

As mentioned earlier, it’s an ongoing phenomenon, or part of the impact of inflation on the ongoing economy as you may call it.

While we did better than the rest of the world (ROW) against COVID, the country’s economic foundation buckled after it was hit by a barrage of flood disasters. To add salt to injury, the recent power shift caused a void, which escalated the overall impacts of inflation.

According to Pakistan Development Update: Inflation and The Poor, the country’s fiscal year performance for the year 2024 doesn’t look very bright. 

At “best”, and we repeat: at “best,” the economy is expected to grow by a measly 2 percent throughout the country. And that’s just a hypothesized estimate. There’s no telling whether it’ll be a 1% growth spurt or a 2% growth rate.

Eventually, the slower growth and a tight monetary stance will further give way to a decline in the real GDP increment.

Setting aside the oil, gas, and other commodity prices, it’s more of an ‘every man for himself’ situation.

What About The Worldwide Inflation Levels?

Surely, the war against Ukraine is a contributing factor to the power imbalance in Russia.

Owing to the consequences of inflation, oil, and gas prices have increased for some nations. 

For instance, the U.S. government imposed bans on Russian products; Mcdonald's got cold feet and relinquished its services in Russia; the Russian natural reserve pipelines were severely damaged – all of this has only managed to affect the baseline commodity price for an average Joe.

The Effects of Inflation on Solopreneurs In Pakistan

Although there are numerous examples concerning the consequences of inflation, we’ll talk about the freelancing industry.

There’s good news and bad news.

First, the bad news. If you are not going to adjust your rates, regardless of whether it’s work online on a freelancing website or an independent agreement with different companies, you will struggle to reach the breakeven point.

At individual levels, things might not be that bad, but small business owners with software companies have many mouths to feed. 

For as long as these business owners aren’t increasing their rates, the freelancing industry doesn’t have much to offer. Of course, buyers would love to buy at lower, or competitive prices as compared to higher rates, but then again, there’s little to no choice.

Now, the good news.

Pakistani freelancers aren’t the only ones struggling.

If we were to talk about the worldwide freelancing industry concerning the aftermath of the global pandemic, the Ukraine war, and overall commodity price inflation, everyone’s struggling. Spain doesn’t have any solace whatsoever.

Social security fees aren’t budging, and it’s not dependent on how much a freelancer, or a solopreneur rakes in. This also means that solopreneurs and freelancers have unlimited possibilities when it comes to offering their high-quality services at increased rates.

What To Do In The Aforementioned Scenario?

Ever worked on Fiverr as a Pakistani solopreneur or a freelancer in general?

If you haven’t already, you should give it a shot.

Fiverr freelancers can bundle their base service with additional services. By default, the platform uses the word: “Gig,” but that’s irrelevant right now. The point is that if you are combating inflation as a freelancer, a small business owner, or a solopreneur working on multiple forefronts, you can bundle your services, regardless of whether the price is increased on your base Gig or not.

Buyers expect quality, and they’d pay a premium if you are offering something in addition to the baseline service. It’s like a simple reincarnation of a real-life delightful customer experience. No one minds a little extra or two servings at a restaurant, even though the food vendor may have already included the price of those extra toppings in the default package.

5 Creative Ways To Deal With the Effects of Inflation In Pakistan

1.  Budgetize and Commit To It

As a service provider in Pakistan, one of the best ways to manage your budget is to take into account the expected effects of inflation.

Inflation can cause prices of goods and services to increase, leading to a decrease in purchasing power. To mitigate the effects of inflation on your business, it is important to have an understanding of what factors cause inflation and how they can affect your budget.

Since inflation affects all areas of the economy including wages, cost of goods and services, and investments, service providers need to adjust their budgets accordingly.

For example, if prices are expected to rise due to higher demand for goods or services then it may be necessary for service providers to raise their prices accordingly to remain competitive.

Additionally, expenses related to materials or other resources may also rise as a result of inflationary pressures.

2.  The Increased Rates Strategy

We already talked about incremented rates in this post.

But, just to reiterate, let’s delve deeper into it. The consequences of inflation are a detrimental force to the economic stability of Pakistan, but that doesn't mean you have to suffer. One way to combat the rising prices of goods and services is to rack up your rates.

This strategy mostly applies to businesses, as they are the ones affected most directly by inflation and its effects on their bottom line.

By increasing your rates, you can offset some of the cost increases associated with inflation.

Doing so can help you keep your business afloat and provide relief from any losses incurred due to inflationary pressures. However, it's important to note that increasing rates should be done carefully and thoughtfully considering the current market trends.

You need to understand how those trends will affect your business before taking any drastic measures.

Additionally, be sure to communicate any rate changes clearly with customers so there aren't any misunderstandings or surprises when it comes time for them to pay for services rendered.

3.  Change Your Business Workflow

To successfully navigate the expected impact of inflation on the economy, businesses should focus on ways to outsource and level up the way they do business.

Outsourcing can help businesses reduce their costs and remain competitive in a challenging market.

This includes outsourcing services such as marketing, IT support, web development, and accounting. By outsourcing these functions, businesses can save money by not having to hire and train additional employees. Moreover, businesses can take advantage of the latest technologies and cost-effective solutions that outsourced providers may offer.

Outsourcing also enables businesses to stay ahead of their competitors; by taking advantage of advancements in technology or gaining access to new markets. 

Businesses also benefit from outsourcing because it allows them to free up resources for other activities or investments that could help them to increase their profits to avoid potential impact of inflation on the economy.

To that effect, outsourcing helps businesses stay agile so that they can quickly respond to changing economic conditions or customer needs. 

Since you are leveraging the right strategies, outsourcing can help businesses level up their operations and better manage the effects and counter the potential consequences of inflation in the country.

4.  Solidify Client Relations

Building strong client relationships is essential for any business to thrive and survive in the long run.

It allows companies to stay updated on their clients’ needs and wants, as well as maintain a positive rapport with them. In a situation like inflation, it is important to keep your clients informed of how it could affect their investments and services.

This not only keeps them in the loop but also helps them make informed decisions based on the best advice. Additionally, having a solid relationship with your clients can help you strategize better and come up with solutions that can help mitigate the negative effects of inflation.

When the time comes for customers to review their options, they will be more likely to choose you if you have shown that you are there for them during challenging times like inflation.

5.  Lean on Reselling or Dropshipping If You Have Zero Investment

Becoming a reseller or a drop shipper of goods are two great ways to navigate the expected effects of inflation in Pakistan.

But the key takeaway is the difference between both variants. 

Reselling Vs. Dropshipping:

Reselling involves purchasing products from a wholesaler, adding your markup to them, and then selling it for a higher price.You are a middle person who connects buyers and sellers, while keeping a markup on your sales.

People buying these products treat you as the sole vendor, since you are promoting those goods. It may sound complicated, but Markaz, as being one of the best entrepreneurial platforms in Pakistan, simplifies the process.

5 Step Process to start selling with Markaz App:

1. Download the Markaz App

2. Sign up as a Reseller

3. Choose the products and mark-up: The resellers get the visibility of all the products listed, and the wholesale rate. They can decide on a markup, there is no cap on the markup.

4. Generate a Purchase Link

5. Start selling in your circle through your social media without investing money

Moving on, dropshipping allows you to sell goods with or without an inventory at your side

The baseline idea is similar to reselling, but dropshipping involves finding wholesale dealers, or regular retailers who’d agree to selling products in single units. 

Dropshipping also comes with longer delivery period. This tends to easily irritate first time shoppers, since you’re the face of the product you’re selling. 

Both of these methods can help you take advantage of reduced inflation rates while also providing an opportunity to earn an income on products that may become more expensive over time due to inflation.

We recommend kick it off with reselling - and that too, through a well-established platform. Markaz offers all that, and much more, owing to its popularity and trust factor among Pakistani’s.

Conclusion

And there you have it; some of the best ways to counter the inflation crisis in Pakistan. In case you have come up with your own creative solutions, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your insight, or reach out to us through our contact page.

FAQs

· How long is inflation expected to last in Pakistan?

According to a recent consensus, the inflation crisis is expected to last throughout the entirety of the year 2024.

Pakistan is blessed with brilliant minds and hard-working youngsters who are continuously disrupting the startup industry with a fresh breed of ideas. Therefore, it’s not a completely hopeless situation.

·  What are the popular freelancing portals available to Pakistanis?

Fiverr, Freelancer, Voices, and tons of other websites offer a mix of opportunities to freelancers and small business owners in Pakistan.

Alternatively, if you are looking to start your career as a reseller without any risks, you can sign up for a reseller account on Markaz and earn up to Rs. 45,000 on an unlimited number of sales. It’s a free-floating platform, with tons of new opportunities for individuals looking to establish their foothold as solopreneurs.