Kashmir prepares its own e-Commerce platform to counter online giants

Abid Bashir
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27 Nov 2025

Srinagar, Nov 26: In a bold move to reclaim their shrinking market space, Kashmir’s traders have begun laying the foundation for a unified online shopping platform — a digital space they hope will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with retail giants like Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho. The initiative, led by the Kashmir Traders Alliance (KTA), marks a significant shift as local shopkeepers struggle to survive against the rapidly growing culture of online shopping in the Valley. “We have already started the groundwork. The idea is to create one common platform for all Kashmir-based traders, something as big and smooth as the existing national shopping apps,” said KTA president Aijaz Shahdar, while speaking to Rising Kashmir. He said the Valley’s business sector has been bleeding financially for over a decade — beginning with the devastating 2014 floods, followed by repeated instability, and this year’s setback caused by the Pahalgam attack on April 22. “Online shopping is adding to the losses. Customers no longer feel the need to visit a shop physically,” he said. For many, the shift to digital commerce has not only altered business patterns but also the emotional connection associated with traditional trade. Ramez Ahmad Shora, a senior KTA member, said that although digital payments are convenient, they lack the satisfaction that physical trade once carried. “Cashless payments feel empty. Earlier, a shopkeeper might get a rupee or two extra — a small gesture, but it made the earning tangible. Now by evening, even after a long day, it doesn’t feel like we have earned anything because money just goes straight into the bank,” he said. Despite VAT relaxations and other policy support, traders say the situation remains challenging. Footfall is low, inventory stagnates, and profit margins continue to shrink — pushing the business community toward innovation rather than resistance. The upcoming all-Kashmir shopping app, if implemented as planned, could offer traders a digital lifeline — helping them tap into online markets without losing customers to large national platforms. Over the years, traders across Kashmir have repeatedly highlighted that business volumes have dropped drastically, with several prominent markets recording 40–60 percent slump in sales during peak seasons. Many traditional establishments that once thrived on festival rush and tourist flow now struggle to cover daily operational costs, and some have even downscaled or shut down after decades of service. The new digital platform, they hope, may finally help reverse this economic slide. For now, the Valley’s merchants are preparing to script their own turnaround — one click at a time.