Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has released its latest consumer spending insights for the Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr period in Pakistan, based on the Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) Retail Spend Monitor.
According to the report, spending on Visa premium consumer cards increased 80% year-on-year, reflecting stronger consumer activity across travel, everyday retail, and food-related categories during the festive season.
Key Seasonal Spending Trends
Inbound Travel Spending During Ramadan
Spending by international visitors using Visa premium consumer cards in Pakistan increased by 30%, with travelers arriving from countries including Saudi Arabia, Canada, Ireland, Turkey, and Italy.
Outbound Travel Spending During Ramadan
International travel spending by Pakistani cardholders rose approximately 35%. Booking behavior indicated shorter planning cycles, with 70% of trips booked within one month of travel. Around 65% of outbound travel spending was directed toward longer trips lasting more than three days. Spending on destinations such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the UK increased by 55%.
Ramadan Spending Behavior
Consumer activity reflected both pre-Ramadan stocking and increased in-month retail engagement. During the week preceding Ramadan (February 11–17), food and grocery spending rose 25% compared to the prior week (February 4–10).
During Ramadan, retail spending accounted for 10%, while food and dining represented 25% of total in-store transactions. Spending activity shifted toward late hours, with post-Iftar spending between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm increasing 30%, and pre-Sehri spending between 12:00 am and 4:00 am rising 85% compared to non-Ramadan weeks.
Spending Peaks Around Eid-ul-Fitr
Consumer spending reached its highest level during Eid-ul-Fitr. Total spending increased 10% during the Eid period (March 16–19) compared to the preceding days (March 12–15). Spending at food outlets and quick-service restaurants grew 15%, while retail spending surged 40%.
Umar S. Khan, Country Manager for Visa in Pakistan and Afghanistan, said, “The Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr period witnessed stronger spending across travel and everyday retail categories, driven by both inbound visitor activity and sustained domestic consumption. These insights demonstrate how consumer behavior evolves during key seasonal moments and highlight opportunities for businesses to deliver more relevant and seamless commerce experiences.”
The VCA Retail Spend Monitor was developed by Visa Consulting & Analytics, capturing retail, travel, and experience-related spending between February 20 and March 20, 2026. The analysis is based on a subset of VisaNet transaction data, supplemented with survey-based estimates covering other payment methods.
Nicolas Khoury, Senior Vice President and Head of Visa Consulting & Analytics for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), stated, “The Retail Spend Monitor provides insight into how consumer spending evolves throughout Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, from travel patterns to everyday purchasing behavior. These findings help issuers and merchants better understand seasonal demand and design experiences aligned with changing consumer needs.”
About Visa’s Retail Spend Monitor
The Retail Spend Monitor provides insights into national retail sales across all payment types. Findings are based on aggregated retail activity within the Visa payments network, combined with survey-based estimates for other payment methods. The analysis helps retailers understand spending trends and support strategic planning and market positioning.
Premium card categories include: Visa Signature, Visa Signature Preferred, Visa Infinite, Visa Infinite Privilege, and Visa Ultra High Net Worth.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments across more than 200 countries and territories. Its mission is to connect the world through innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payment networks that enable individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. More information is available at Visa.com.
