Support for boycott movement declines among Pakistani consumers, survey finds

ISLAMABAD: A new survey by Pulse Consultant indicates a significant drop in both public support and actual implementation of boycott campaigns among urban Pakistani consumers, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza and widespread media attention.

The study, part of Pulse Consultant’s ongoing series “Tracking Pakistani Consumers’ Sentiments,” compared consumer behaviour between April 2025 and August-September 2025. It revealed that while majority of urban Pakistanis still express agreement with the idea of boycotting certain foreign brands, both the level of support and actual practice have waned.

Overall agreement with the boycott dropped slightly from 69 percent to 66 percent. Among males, support fell from 66 percent to 64 percent (2 percent).

Among females, support saw a more pronounced decline-from 77 percent to 68 percent (11 percent). Practical implementation of the boycott - those who said they acted on their agreement - declined sharply.

Overall participation fell from 82 percent to 56 percent, marking a 26 percent drop, the lowest level since 2023.

Among males, implementation dropped from 81 percent to 54 percent (27 percent).

Among females, the rate declined from 84 percent to 58 percent (26 percent). This shift comes despite continued Israeli military action in Gaza, which has historically galvanized consumer activism in Pakistan.

The data suggests that while symbolic support for boycotts remains relatively high, sustained action may be difficult to maintain over time.

The findings raise questions about whether Pakistani fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies effectively capitalised on the boycott momentum earlier in the year. With consumer focus now shifting, some industry experts suggest the window of opportunity for local brands to gain market share from boycotted multinational companies may have narrowed.

Pulse Consultant offers detailed analytics on consumer sentiment, brand switching behaviour, and demographic breakdowns by gender, city, age, and socio-economic class. Full reports are available through subscription.