- Tech-driven apps are helping women earn income and offering flexibility and are empowering beauticians like Saima Victor in Karachi.
- Beyond financial gains, apps like Helpp reshape societal norms, with husbands taking on unconventional roles to support their wives’ careers.
Saima Victor, a resilient beautician in Karachi for over two decades, found herself at a crossroads—balancing a meagre Rs40,000 monthly income with the demands of a 10-hour salon job and a cumbersome commute.
June 2022 marked the turning point when she embraced Helpp, a Singapore-based home services app, as her bridge to financial independence and a harmonious work-life equilibrium.
Financial Independence for Women Through Online Apps
Working for beauty salons, where fixed salaries and arduous working hours were the norm, Helpp emerged as a revolutionary game-changer. Saima’s income, once confined to Rs40,000, witnessed a remarkable surge, doubling to a thriving Rs80,000.
What set Helpp apart was the financial boost and the autonomy it granted her. Direct client bookings through her mobile phone became the new norm, offering unparalleled flexibility. Other apps providing opportunities to women include Foodpanda, InDriver and Careem.
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Saima Breaks Societal Norms with Tech-Driven App
This shift extended beyond individual empowerment to a dynamic restructuring of societal roles. Joseph, Victor’s husband, transitioned from a daily wage earner to her dedicated driver. Breaking free from traditional norms, he played a pivotal role in ensuring his wife’s seamless navigation through work commitments. Together, they forged a unique path, debunking stereotypes and establishing a modest yet empowering income.
Naveeza Kamran, another beautician on the platform, witnessed her income surge from 20,000 to over 50,000, sharing the financial burden of household expenses.
Asra Anwar-ul-Haq, Helpp’s category head, emphasized, that such apps have more than just economic relief. With flexible working hours, Helpp elevated incomes 5 times more than compared to the conventional salon market. Beauticians could not work full time and could enjoy flexibility, earning as per their convenience.
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Vision for the Future: Empowering Thousands of Pakistani Women
Looking beyond immediate gains, tech-driven apps could impact the lives of 100,000 women in Pakistan within the next five years. The vision extended beyond financial independence to empowering women through their innovative “salon-at-home” services. For Kamran, once a dreamer, technology became the conduit for turning aspirations into reality. No longer constrained by unfulfilled desires, she shared her newfound ability to afford luxuries, signifying a life transformed through technology’s empowering touch. Other
In the bustling cityscape of Karachi, Saima Victor’s journey stands as a testament to the transformative power of technology, offering not just economic stability but a profound shift in societal roles and the freedom for individuals to dream beyond limitations.
Other apps like indriver, careem and Foodpanda are all giving women an equal opportunity to earn money as riders and drivers, paving a path for women to obtain work through various online platforms.
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