Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons has opened its first outlet in Pakistan, drawing large crowds despite the country’s economic crisis. Pakistanis are queuing for hours to grab coffee and pastries from the upmarket Lahore shopping mall where the cafe is located.
This new opening comes as Pakistan’s economic outlook worsens. The Pakistani rupee has lost more than a quarter of its value against the US dollar in less than a month. In addition, fuel prices have risen by almost a fifth, and inflation in January spiked to 27% year-on-year, the highest in over a decade.
Despite these challenges, the launch of Tim Hortons in Pakistan has generated significant interest. The cafe, owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc, has attracted scores of customers, drawn to its signature coffee, donuts, and other offerings.
The new opening has also generated hope for economic growth and development, with the promise of new jobs and increased economic activity. Tim Hortons plans to open more outlets across Pakistan in the coming years, with local franchise operator the Sapphire Group investing heavily in the venture.
The launch of Tim Hortons in Pakistan represents the latest expansion in the brand’s global reach, and signals its confidence in the country’s potential for growth and development, despite the current economic challenges.
As the nation experienced a catastrophic economic crisis that is becoming worse every day because the government was unable to access crucial IMF funding, some questioned the priorities of the populace. People still have to spend their hard-earned money on Tim Hortons despite the recession.
Some people defended customers who flocked to the well-known restaurant to satiate their taste buds as the development became the talk of the town and even showed up in Twitter trends.
