Google-supported Tech Mela to kick off in Pakistan tomorrow

Published September 10, 2015
Google will be supporting the largest online shopping festival in Pakistan. - AP/File
Google will be supporting the largest online shopping festival in Pakistan. - AP/File

Sponsor content: this content is made possible by our sponsor and does not necessarily reflect the views of Dawn.com's editorial staff.

Google has announced its support for the largest online shopping festival in Pakistan, dubbed ‘Tech Mela’, the online shopping event will be the first of its kind in the country’s emerging e-commerce market.

Tech Mela is slated to run for a duration of 10 days, starting on September 11 and will end on September 20.

“Pakistan’s mobile industry is really taking off with more and more people coming online and using their smartphones as their primary Internet device,” said Tania Aidrus, Country Manager South Asia Frontier at Google.

“It is absolutely the right time to hold this virtual shopping festival just before the traditional holiday and festive period of Eidul Azha and what better way than to hold it completely online where the next wave of buyers will be congregating,” added Tania.

With Internet penetration growing rapidly and the desire to purchase on the Internet increasing, we hope this initiative will bring more awareness and adoption of e-commerce in Pakistan, stated Google’s country manager.

According to TNS Research, there are 30 million online users in Pakistan, half of whom are using mobile phones for the purpose. Google is teaming up with e-commerce partner Daraz.pk, the Dawn Media Group as its media partner and Activ8 as the development partner to hold the online shopping festival.

“The majority of digital consumers in Pakistan are already researching online to decide which device to purchase, and for the most part they find online resources more relevant and credible to their purchase journey,” stated Tania.

According to Google’s top executive in the country, the Tech Mela is an initiative to complete the research and purchase loop, and to spur greater acceptance of e-commerce among even more Pakistanis.

Tech Mela will focus on exclusives, special deals and attractive discounts on smartphones, gadgets, data and voice plans that will only be available online during the duration of this event.

Sponsor content: this content is made possible by our sponsor and does not necessarily reflect the views of Dawn.com's editorial staff.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

OVER the last few weeks, there have been several exchanges involving top officials and their Saudi counterparts. At...
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.