In bustling Karachi traffic, Lahore boulevards, and Islamabad roads, Yango's distinctive red-helmeted riders on motorbikes have become ubiquitous, zipping through jams to deliver everything from critical medicines and laptops to food, clothing, documents, and gadgets often in under an hour at prices 15-20% below rivals.
Dubai-headquartered Yango, largely unknown in Pakistan three years ago, entered via ride-hailing in mid-2023 amid a vacuum left by Uber's 2022 exit and Careem's June 2025 retreat from that business due to unsustainable costs. This timing allowed Yango to capture premium ride demand before pivoting aggressively to parcels.
At the helm is Mohammad Ahsan Akbar, Yango's South Asia Regional Head and a 2015 IBA graduate with prior stints in software consulting and Foodpanda, where he launched pandago to revolutionize pharmacy and grocery deliveries from days to hours via partnerships with chains like DVAGO, Al-Fatah, and Naheed.
Joining Yango in March 2024 as Country Manager for Delivery, Akbar applied his B2B expertise to scale operations, emphasizing a "super app" strategy honed across 30+ countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and South Asia: build driver ecosystems through rides, then layer on logistics with global tech tailored locally.
Key differentiators include user-friendly features like multi-stops, photo-verified addresses, real-time tracking, diverse vehicle options (bikes for small parcels, cars, rickshaws, vans, trucks for cargo), and free insurance on every shipment— a trust-builder in Pakistan's opaque market with low claim rates thanks to safety protocols.
Affordability stems from operational efficiencies, not price wars, with algorithms optimizing routes and maximizing driver utilization across services. Partnerships like 2025's DealCart grocery integration in Karachi and booming SMB cargo bookings (Akbar's favorite vertical) drive cross-usage, fueled by in-app rewards and seamless navigation.
Challenges abound in Pakistan's tough environment: rampant inflation, fuel volatility, patchy regulations, and periodic driver protests over commissions. Yango counters with dynamic pricing, bonuses for steady earnings, and continuous adaptation learning from predecessors like Careem Express and Foodpanda's niche focus.
Akbar stresses "local first" values: "Pakistan isn't just a market; it's a partnership for real impact," aiming to digitize and unify the nation's fragmented logistics of small fleets, 3PLs, and informal couriers into one ecosystem. As red bikes multiply, Yango positions itself as the reassuring organizer of chaotic urban life
