From Instagram to Inbox: Courier Demand Soars in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 10: Courier companies across Kashmir are witnessing unprecedented growth as the region sees a rapid surge in online business activities, ranging from home-delivered food orders to women’s apparel, stitched suits, and lifestyle products. The transformation, accelerated post-pandemic, is now being powered by young entrepreneurs, home-based sellers, Instagram boutiques, and hyperlocal food outlets.

From Srinagar to South Kashmir and parts of North Kashmir, courier franchise owners report a steep rise in parcel volumes. The spike isn’t solely from national e-commerce platforms like Amazon or Flipkart—but from within Kashmir, where local businesses are increasingly digital-first.

“We’ve recorded a nearly 60% rise in local parcel pickups over the last six months. These aren’t big-brand shipments, but packages from food startups, boutiques, bakery units, and home-based sellers,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, who manages a courier hub in Srinagar. “Most of the deliveries are either food or women’s dresses—suits, hijabs, abayas, you name it.”

Local food outlets and home kitchens are major contributors to this boom. Wazwan packs, bakery boxes, biryani trays, and even dried vegetables are now being ordered online and delivered through courier agents. Feroz Wani, who coordinates a food logistics network in downtown Srinagar, said, “Earlier we had to depend on in-house delivery boys. Now courier services are our backbone. They pick up dozens of parcels every day—especially on weekends and festivals. Orders come from Shopian, Budgam, even Kupwara.”

Rubina Jan, a home-based fashion designer echoes a similar sentiment. “I started by stitching suits for neighbours. Then I began posting on Instagram. Now, I get over 20 orders a week from across the Valley. Couriers help me reach customers even in villages where I’ve never been. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”

Young consumers are also fueling this ecosystem. With limited access to malls or large clothing stores, many prefer to order stitched or semi-stitched designer wear from local sellers via social media. “I ordered an Eid suit from a boutique in Srinagar. It arrived in just two days,” said Asiya Bashir, a college student in Baramulla. “They even give cash-on-delivery options.”

For courier agents, this transformation has led to increased hiring, longer routes, and diversified service models. “Our old job was to deliver mobile phones or documents from Amazon. Now 70% of our parcels are food or clothes from local sellers,” said Junaid Nabi, a delivery executive. “Sometimes I deliver freshly baked cakes, sometimes stitched kurtis—it’s different every day.”

Delivery services have become a critical bridge for Kashmir’s micro-entrepreneurs, particularly women-led businesses operating from home. “I started selling dry fruits and homemade snacks last winter,” said Muneera Akhtar from Pulwama. “People order from Srinagar, Kupwara—even Jammu. The courier guys come to my door to pick it up. It’s like running an e-store from my living room.”

Courier companies are responding to this local boom by expanding operations. New delivery hubs have opened in Pulwama, Shopian, Bandipora, and Ganderbal to cater to rising demand. Some firms are even offering same-day delivery for intra-district shipments. Industry observers say this hyperlocal e-commerce model, rooted in Kashmir’s local economy, is reshaping both consumer habits and supply chains.

The rise in courier activity has also brought new employment avenues for local youth. “I joined a courier service last year. Now, I earn more than I did in a sales job,” said Arif Mir from Budgam. “Demand is growing, and the work is regular.”

Experts believe this is just the beginning. “The mix of social media commerce, digital payments, and expanding courier networks is giving rise to a parallel economy in Kashmir,” said a local industry analyst. “It’s small-scale but powerful. And it’s creating local jobs, income and enterprise in a region where opportunities were once limited.”

As Kashmir’s economy adapts to digital realities, courier services are no longer just about deliveries—they’ve become enablers of economic inclusion, women empowerment, and grassroots entrepreneurship.