How to Start Dropshipping in Pakistan (2025): The Ultimate Guide

According to a U.S. government trade analysis, Pakistan’s ecommerce industry generated about US $5.2 billion in 2023. More and more people in Pakistan browse and buy online. This is a golden opportunity for merchants in Pakistan to start their online businesses.

If you are asking how to start dropshipping in Pakistan, this guide walks you through research, supplier selection, setting up your online store (especially via Shopify), legal & considerations, and marketing. By the end you’ll feel equipped to launch a dropshipping business in Pakistan with confidence.

Dropshipping model: Definition & Benefits

What is dropshipping?

Dropshipping is an ecommerce model where you sell products without stocking inventory, through a supplier who ships the item directly to the customer. Think of it like being a store-front that passes the order to a fulfilment centre instead of storing goods in a warehouse yourself.

Why you should choose the dropshipping model

For many Pakistani merchants, it presents one of the most practical paths into ecommerce. The model removes many of the traditional business hurdles that come with managing stock or owning physical shops.

In Pakistan, where e-commerce infrastructure is growing but still developing, dropshipping offers several clear benefits:

Low startup investment

Starting a traditional retail business requires large upfront capital for inventory and warehousing. With dropshipping, merchants can launch stores without buying stock in advance. Products are purchased from suppliers only when customers order them, which drastically reduces financial risk.

No inventory or warehousing hassles

Managing physical stock can be challenging in Pakistan due to high rental costs and limited storage facilities. Dropshipping removes this barrier completely. Merchants only need a laptop, stable internet, and reliable suppliers.

Wider product choice without bulk buying

Pakistani sellers can list thousands of products from different suppliers without owning a single one. This flexibility helps them test trending products in various niches such as fashion, beauty, or tech accessories before deciding what sells best.

Anyone can start dropshipping

Dropshipping suits those looking for additional income streams. Businessmen, university students, freelancers, or stay-at-home parents can operate their stores part-time and still earn profit without handling logistics or packaging.

Choosing dropshipping allows you to focus on marketing and customer service instead of the logistics.

How to Start Dropshipping in Pakistan

Step 1: Researching the market and choosing a profitable niche

Before you dive into store setup, you must research the market and choose a niche wisely. A niche is a specific product category or customer segment where you can build an advantage.

Why research matters:

• It helps identify demand, competition, pricing trends.
• In Pakistan, some product categories already show traction (fashion, electronics accessories, beauty).

How to research:

• Use free tools like Google Trends and local marketplaces (for example, check best-sellers on Daraz).
• Explore social-media trends (Instagram, TikTok) focusing on Pakistan.
• Think of combinations: product that enjoys decent demand + manageable competition + logistic feasibility in Pakistan.
• Ask yourself: Do I understand the customer? Can I serve them better (via faster shipping, local language, regional marketing)?

Example niches: mobile / tech accessories (frequently replaced), modest fashion (popular in Pakistan’s market), home-décor items (rising middle class).

Step 2: Selecting reliable suppliers

Once you have a niche, next step is supplier sourcing. Reliable and fast-shipping suppliers make or break your business because shipping delays, poor quality, or broken communication destroy customer trust.

• Local suppliers (Pakistan): Offer faster shipping, simpler returns, and greater trust among domestic buyers; however, product variety is more limited.
• International suppliers (AliExpress, Alibaba, etc.): Provide wider product ranges and lower per-item costs; still, shipping can take longer and customs fees may apply.

When you’re working out how to start a dropshipping business in Pakistan, evaluate suppliers on:

• Your businesss goal (do you sell locally or do you target the international market?)
• Responsiveness (do they reply quickly, answer questions)
• Sample orders (test shipping time & quality)
• Tracking and return process
• All the costs and additional fees included

Step 3: How to Start Shopify Dropshipping in Pakistan

If you use Shopify (my recommended route for ease and scalability), this section shows the exact path to launching.

Why choose Shopify for dropshipping in Pakistan?

Shopify is a global ecommerce platform built for beginners and scaling merchants. It provides a ready-to-go shopping cart, hosting, themes, app-ecosystem. Compared to building a site from scratch or using local marketplaces, Shopify offers full control of brand, design, customer experience. Because you’re doing dropshipping, that control matters: you can differentiate via store experience, not just price.

Step-by-step guide to start Shopify dropshipping in Pakistan

• Create Shopify account — sign up for a trial period, pick plan when ready.
• Install a dropshipping app — for example DSers, Spocket or similar; these integrate supplier catalogues with Shopify, automate order forwarding.
• Add products — choose your niche products, import product data, customise descriptions (focus on benefit, local audience).
• Setup payment gateways — in Pakistan, you’ll want options like cash-on-delivery (COD), JazzCash, Easypaisa, 2Checkout, or PayFast (depending on your arrangement). Since local consumers often prefer COD or local wallets, make sure these options appear.
• Configure shipping settings — set up shipping zones for Pakistan, decide which courier services you’ll use (see next section). Clearly state shipping time, returns, as transparency builds trust.
• Launch store and test orders — place a test order yourself, check payment flow, shipping label creation, notifications, customer experience. Fix any glitches before marketing broadly.

If you are looking for a more detailed guide, check our article on How to start Shopify dropshipping.

Step 4: Handling payments, taxes, and legal requirements

Running a dropshipping business in Pakistan means you must be aware of legal and financial obligations. Operating responsibly fosters trust, prevents penalties, and positions you for safe growth.

Key legal/payment/tax aspects:

• Register your business (you might register as sole-proprietor, partnership, or private limited company) meaning you obtain NTN (National Tax Number) via Federal Board of Revenue and, if applicable, register with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan for corporate entity.
• Understand sales tax/withholding tax rules when selling goods online—they vary depending on product, origin, and value.
• Offer payment methods aligned to local preferences: COD remains high in Pakistan (about 75 % of ecommerce payments) according to one market-analysis firm. Payments Market Insights
• Keep record of transactions, expenses, shipping, returns—these support tax filing, business decisions, and compliance.

Transparency builds brand credibility, helps you scale rather than staying informal.

Step 5: Managing orders, shipping, and customer service

Fulfilling orders smoothly and supporting customers well is where you win or lose. In a dropshipping model you act as the customer-facing merchant, supplier handles shipping. Your job is to coordinate everything.

Order-fulfilment workflow:

• Customer places order → you forward order to supplier → supplier ships to customer → you update tracking + customer.
• Use courier services familiar in Pakistan: such as TCS Express & Logistics (Pvt) Ltd., BlueEx, Leopard Courier Services.
• Set clear shipping times on store front: e.g., “3-5 business days for Pakistan” if using local supplier; “10-15 business days for international shipping” if importing.
• Handle returns & refunds: State clearly your policy. Even better: pick suppliers who allow returns or replacements.
• Communicate proactively: customers appreciate tracking updates and realistic expectations. Note that many Pakistani shoppers aren’t used to long waits. Fail to deliver as promised and you lose trust fast.

Good customer service becomes a marketing asset (people tell others). Bad service spreads via social media and hurts your brand.

Step 6: Marketing your dropshipping store

Once your store is live and running, you need traffic and conversions. Marketing in Pakistan has unique aspects: mobile-first users, social-media savvy youth, preference for COD. Use that to your advantage.

Channels & tactics:

• Social ads: Use Meta Platforms Inc. platforms (Facebook, Instagram) to run targeted ads. You can choose location Pakistan, languages, interests. Use strong visuals, local offers.
• Short-video marketing: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels resonate especially with younger Pakistani audience. Show product in action, share behind-scenes, highlight ease of purchase.
• SEO & content marketing: Write blog posts, product guides, FAQs about your niche. Helps organic traffic and trust.
• Local influencers: Partner with micro-influencers in Pakistan who have engaged followers. Their endorsement helps social proof.

Also, focus on mobile optimization: Ensure your store loads fast on mobile, checkout is simple, design accommodates small screens. According to one data-source, 80 % of online purchases in Pakistan in 2024 happened on mobile devices.

Examples of successful dropshipping businesses in Pakistan

Dropshipping is not just a global trend, it has taken root in Pakistan’s e-commerce space as well. Below are some notable examples that reflect the potential of dropshipping for Pakistani entrepreneurs.

Telemart – A leading Pakistani online retailer that began with a dropshipping-style model before scaling into a full ecommerce platform. It’s widely recognized for its wide range of electronics, gadgets, and accessories, serving customers nationwide.

ShopHive – Among Pakistan’s earliest ecommerce stores, ShopHive initially adopted a dropshipping approach by partnering with local and international suppliers to offer electronics and home products without managing large inventories.

Buyon.pk – A marketplace that allows small merchants across Pakistan to sell products online, many of whom use dropshipping as their core model. The platform supports sellers with payment solutions, logistics integration, and nationwide reach.

These examples show that Pakistan’s ecommerce landscape already supports profitable dropshipping ventures. By leveraging reliable suppliers, digital payment systems, and social media marketing, local entrepreneurs can transform simple online stores into thriving businesses.

FAQs about Dropshipping in Pakistan

Final Thoughts

Starting a dropshipping business in Pakistan is absolutely possible and timely. With rising internet penetration, growing ecommerce adoption and platforms like Shopify available globally, Pakistani entrepreneurs are well placed to build online businesses.

If you’re ready, take that first step now: set up your Shopify store trial, test one product, evaluate your results. You’ve got what’s needed to turn an idea into a thriving online business.