ISLAMABAD: There are over 130 million cellphone users in Pakistan of which roughly 30 percent are operating smartphones. Here are some of the applications for your phone that are relevant to Pakistan and cover new ways to engage in transportation, self-love, charity and dialogue with the government.
Airlift
Bus services are not new in Pakistan but travel options within one’s own city have usually been lacking in terms of efficiency and bang for one’s bucks. Airlift aims to change all that, however. The all-in-one application touts itself as an alternative to Careem, Uber and public transportation. With fixed routes, fixed prices, and fixed timings, Airlift is taking the guess work out of one’s ride to work, university or wherever you may want to be while also keeping surge prices (like those on other ride share apps) at bay.
Airlift is available on Android phones.
Gharpar
Gharpar is bringing the reliance of your favorite salon to the absolute effortless of simply opening your front door. Gharpar is leading the change of comfort in your own home by having salon service providers, anywhere from women equipped to blow-dry to nail technicians to masseuses, booked to come over from the simplicity of an app. Gharpar has also been applauded for the way it has revolutionized self-employment for women in particular, freeing them from lower wages and cuts of traditional salon work.
Gharpar is available on Android and Apple phones.
Rizq
Sustainability, food waste and charity are wrapped into one app with Rizq. Their tagline is “Hunger Free Pakistan,” and that is exactly what Rizq sets out to do. When a wedding or corporate event, or even a family lunch has a lot of food left over, if one does not have a place to send it to, Rizq will come over, package it up and redistribute it among the hungry. Inspired by those that give away food during Ramadan, Rizq is making daily food help a reality with most of the thinking to get it done removed.
Rizq is available on Android and Apple phones.
Farm to Home
Farm to Home is an app that quite literally brings the farm to your home. Designed to eliminate the (many) middle men between farmers and their consumers, Farm to Home works with a number of farms in the Islamabad and Rawalpindi area to curate fresh seasonal produce at competitive prices and to deliver those delicious crops to your front door!
Farm to Home is available on Android.
Pakistan Citizens’ Portal
Last year, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf were voted into power and aimed to bring channels to hear out the citizens of Pakistan, and they did not disappoint. Launched merely weeks after taking office, Pakistan Citizens’ Portal is an app which allows for anyone with a national identity card or valid ID numbers to register and have palm to direct access to a number of ministries where they can lodge complaints or ask questions. The app also helps with information on where to get necessary forms, what offices and ministries are responsible for what avenues and much more.
Pakistan Citizens Portal is available on Android and Apple phones.
