Meeting The Man Behind E-Commerce Growth In Pakistan-How Saqib Azhar Became the Beacon of Hope for the Youth of the Country
Saqib Azhar is a British Pakistani entrepreneur, and the creator of the World’s largest Amazon Ecommerce Facebook Page “Ecommerce by Enablers.” He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Enablers, a hub that features eCommerce training. Saqib has over 15 years of experience in international eCommerce, working with markets such as Amazon. He has also worked as a consultant for several companies in the UK, Middle East, and other countries. He has
During his career, he demonstrated professional experience with several projects, including project management, onshore/offshore development, eCommerce SEO management, strategic partnerships, client-serving, and many more. Apart from that, Saqib is an expert in lead generation, dropshipping and revenue generation from various online channels.
In December 2020, his company, Enablers, won the award for the best eCommerce organization in Pakistan, just two years after its establishment. He’s estimated to have a net worth in millions of dollars and has set up 11 offices across Pakistan.
An inspiration for many, millions of people from Pakistan have become Enablers’ students, generating more than $45 million in revenue in just two years. Saqib is an official board patron in Youth Parliament and has been selected by UNDP Pakistan for Youth Development Program in KPK, Pakistan. Read about his early life here.
Amazon Training
Even though he was earning a handsome amount of PKR 1.5 million at that time with his job, living the luxury dream that most Pakistanis dreamt of, the fear of working in a rat race kept him scared. For him, establishing his own business that gave freedom of working from anyplace and anytime was the most important goal.
Wanting to start a business himself, Saqib got acquainted with Amazon’s business opportunity in 2010. Getting a hands-on experience on amazon product listing and selling, Saqib finally realized that this was his key to establishing his business. Initially, he started working with the US markets. However, being an amateur, he failed several times, losing his savings earned from his job. Motivated by the success stories, Saqib didn’t give up and continued working with Amazon.
One of the turning points for his business was expanding his approach to various markets, including UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, etc. While working with several markets at the same time, balancing his job was getting tough. Sleeping for only a few hours, but earning millions; focusing on his job was of lesser concern now. He decided on resigning from his job and left no stone unturned in growing his eCommerce business.
The financial freedom that he had always wanted was finally in his grip with his eCommerce business booming and generating good revenue. Looking to flourish, Saqib then engaged his eCommerce store with Walmart, eBay, Groupon, and several other market places. With luck and effort, the brands he built generated a stream of revenue and are now worth millions.
Saqib’s efforts bore their fruit in no time. His proficiency and skills gained him success after numerous failures in the market. Owning a luxury house, driving expensive cars, and receiving his British nationality in 2014 was everything that he had ever dreamed of.
The Journey
Even though the stores were booming and revenue generation was high, Saqib felt the need to return to Pakistan. The dissatisfaction of not living with his family and in his country was troubling infrequently, which is when he decided to move to Pakistan in 2018.
Saqib envisioned Pakistan as a multi-million dollar eCommerce hub that would strengthen the economy and will improve entrepreneurship trends in the country. His selflessness and dedication to the country were what enabled him to turn his vision into reality with the creation of Enablers.
Pitching what he had been doing and what he had learned to his fellow mates, Saqib was motivated to establish footings for a growing eCommerce market in the country. He then worked ceaselessly, and finally co-founded “Enablers” in 2018.
The company under the supervision of Saqib flourished quickly. Specializing in eCommerce business particularly on Amazon while working with some of the world’s largest customer service providers and several brands.
Enablers was created to become Pakistan’s largest and fastest-growing eCommerce platform that would allow people to establish their eCommerce businesses in foreign markets. The company aims to boost the economy by elevating entrepreneurship programs through its Enabling Video Series. It aims to diversify the existing business structure, making way for people to enter the eCommerce market globally.
One of the many contributions by the company is the initialization of the Enabling Video Series or EVS. The EVS is a pool of video series that comprises various subjects covering a vast collection of information. Supplying the necessary expertise to the users, the EVS offers real-time interaction with experts in the domain, allowing people to gain eCommerce knowledge.
The EVS 2.0 is the latest venture underway by Enablers. It comprises several video training series that cover the majority of the subjects one can use to initiate their eCommerce store. From Amazon FBA wholesale module to private label and dropshipping, it brings a vast set of skills for the learners to elevate in their knowledge.
Most recently, considering the rise of cryptocurrency and the use of blocked chain to regulate funds, Saqib Azhar announced the “Enablers Cryptocurrency Video Series.” With this initiative, Saqib believes to strengthen the Pakistani economy in the upcoming digital era, making Pakistan one of the biggest hubs for eCommerce and crypto-trading.
Community Impact
The initiative was taken by Saqib himself as he made sure to spread what he has learned throughout his life. The purpose of the video series was to enable learners to gain dexterity in setting up and running eCommerce stores and accelerate their income. It is an initiative to accelerating eCommerce endeavors, empowering the nation to step into the growing field. Enablers’ students have generated over $45 million within 2 years, leading to the country grow more than $5 million for 2020.
Recognition
Saqib Azhar and Enablers have been endorsed by several personalities and government organizations for their efforts. Most recently, team Enablers, including the CEO, COO, and other relevant staff had a meeting with President Dr. Arif Alvi on the topics of establishing a path for e-commerce growth in Pakistan.
The President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi met with the team of Enablers as a gesture of thanking the organization, especially Saqib Azhar for their efforts. After listening to the initiatives taken by the company and proposing several agendas, the President ensured complete coordination from the government, guaranteeing every help needed by Enablers in their goal to make Pakistan a leading eCommerce hub.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Usman Buzdar endorsed the initiative taken by Enablers in collaboration with TEVTA. The Youth Development Program will reserve 30% seats, especially for females, giving them a better opportunity to step up in the competing market without using many resources.
Book Publications
Saqib Azhar is the author of “Learn the Art of Making Passive Income.” Published in (year), the book discusses methods of generating passive income with various elaborated eCommerce models, knowledge of working with eCommerce platforms, and dropshipping methods.
Awards
With unaltered vision and ceaseless performance, Enablers was awarded the “Best eCommerce Company Award 2020” in the “3rd Jadeed Pakistan Conference and Awards 2020” held on 9th December 2020.
Saqib and his company Enablers are recognized internationally, collaborating with several brands, including Payoneer. It’s also selected by the “United Nations Development Program” to offer “Youth Development Initiatives” in KPK, Pakistan.
In addition, the Youth Parliament acknowledged the efforts of Saqib Azhar and requested his presence as a member of the Board of Patrons in a ceremony organized by the “Jadeed Pakistan Initiative.”
Saqib is continuously striving to empower the youth, particularly the women, and underprivileged to develop an interest in generating passive income. His book “Learn the Art of Making Passive Income” gives exclusive and practical insights on how to work in the eCommerce markets of the world.
Collaborations
Working relentlessly, Saqib not only helps boost Enablers into his vision but also collaborated with several organizations, both locally and internationally.
HEC
The Higher Education Commission is one of the most prestigious organizations in Pakistan. Responsible for regulating, funding, and accrediting higher education institutions of the country, it was one of the most important collaborations that Saqib and Enablers could achieve.
Most recently, The Punjab Higher Education Commission approved and signed MoU with Enablers for introducing one-year eCommerce specialization and digital marketing programs. The primary aim of these programs is to offer students thorough training in eCommerce and digital marketing, enabling them to earn while they complete their education.
UNDP
One of the most prestigious moments for Saqib Azhar was when he was interviewed by the representatives of the UN. With time and effort, he became quite notable and was selected by the United Nations Development Program UNDP Pakistan for Youth Development Program in KPK, Pakistan.
TEVTA
Enablers also came in collaboration with the Technical and Vocational Training Authority TEVTA. After making a lot of effort, CEO Saqib Azhar was able to convince the organization to include eCommerce training as a part of the institute’s training courses. As a result, Ali Salman Siddique, Chairperson TEVTA signed an MoU with Enablers in the presence of MPA Aisha Nawaz and TEVTA COO Akhtar Abbas Bharwana. The MoU laid the foundations for “Khushhal Puraman Pakistan,” a program that would offer, especially women, eCommerce training in TEVTA institutes. 30% of seats were specially reserved for women in this initiative.
Lahore Chamber of Commerce
With over 30 thousand registered businesses, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is one of the many organizations that needed to step in the race of digital earnings. Considering this, Saqib Azhar approached the representatives of LCCI intending to build trust for not an individual organization but for the entire country. The representatives collaborated completely, allowing the formation of the eCommerce chamber.
Ecommerce Association
One of the many reasons why most people refrain from online businesses is the presence of unregistered businesses scamming the customers. Thinking to improve the existing eCommerce market of the country, Saqib Azhar in a meeting with President Dr. Arif Alvi, proposed to establish an “Ecommerce Association of Pakistan.”
This organization aims to encourage only registered eCommerce stores to operate in the market. It would not only improve the quality of the sellers in the market but will also regain the trust of the customers towards online shopping.
Payoneer
The lack of PayPal in Pakistan is one of the biggest issues that is faced by freelancers and eCommerce store holders. Many have used third-party methods to create their PayPal accounts; however, the problem hasn’t been solved yet. Enablers is in collaboration with Payoneer, an alternative method to PayPal to help entrepreneurs, freelancers, and online store holders gain ease of working, handling transactions easily.
Personal Life
Belonging to a middle-class family and having faced numerous hurdles, Saqib was always humble to what he achieved. He was approached by the UN for several achievements and was selected by UNDP as an ambassador of the Youth Development Program in KPK, Pakistan.
What truly inspires him to continue his journey is the success stories of Enablers’ students. According to Saqib, moving back to Pakistan in 2018 was a daring choice but proved to be quite rewarding. Looking up to Jeff Bezos, he considers himself a risk-taker and someone that is constantly bettering himself. “He wasn’t an accidental entrepreneur. He had the same vision as I do and I aim to achieve something higher than him if Allah bids,” Saqib included.
In an interview, he stated about the ongoing rat-race system in the country “Success comes when you refuse to give up. You can truly achieve something when you’re ready to take risks and determined on fulfilling your goal no matter the hurdles. I believe people should not be satisfied with what they do because they’re so many chances of improving that you can’t simply sit in one place. I envision changing this culture through Enablers.”
Saqib also said “I never imagined to become such an influence with so many people looking at me. I feel proud when I hear success stories of our students, earning more than the average salaries that many of our graduates earn. That is what motivates me in sacrificing my sleep. Enabling our youth to come out of generational professions and work side by side with the world.”
Saqib spends time with his family and childhood friends whenever he gets a chance off work. Apart from work, he invests his time in reading or researching the latest trends in the market as well as initializing collaborative approaches with government institutes to establish eCommerce strongholds in the country.
Future Vision & Prospects
Enablers is working on the vision of its CEO, Saqib Azhar, aiming to develop and improve the country’s economy. The organization aims to diversify the culture of jobs in the country, developing professional and social skills among them.
The primary goal of Enablers was to engage the people particularly the youth to gain experience by working with the biggest e-commerce markets. Enablers also aims to produce 2 million employment opportunities and over 200,000 businesses in the country by 2023. It would help add almost 50 million exports for e-commerce markets, elevating the position of the country. Since Pakistan is not on the list of approved countries of Amazon, it’s the dire need to focus on establishing a backbone for e-commerce development in the country. Saqib and his team are making ceaseless efforts in what Saqib believes is the effort for the country’s betterment and progress.
