Two years ago, the rhythm of urban leisure was predictable and comfortable. After long work days or during slow weekends, the routine was familiar: returning home, shedding the day’s fatigue, and settling into your sofas or at the nearest chai dhaba.Â
Today, that landscape has dramatically shifted. The city pulses with a new energy, where every spare moment is now a potential opportunity to play padel. Dinner is no longer a leisurely affair, but a rushed prelude to padel bookings. Conversations have transformed from idle chat to passionate discussions about court availability, playing techniques, and the next tournament. Where once we sought comfort, we now chase the adrenaline of a fast-paced game, our social calendars revolving around the unmistakable bounce of a padel ball.
When padel first arrived in Pakistan, it was an exciting novelty, drawing fitness enthusiasts, former tennis and squash players, and social sports fans alike. Fast forward a year, and the market has transformed into a high-growth industry with investors pouring in money, courts appearing in every major city, and competition reaching new heights. But within this rapid expansion, hides a critical question: is it still a profitable business to open a padel court today? The content in this publication is expensive to produce. But unlike other journalistic outfits, business publications have to cover the very organizations that directly give them advertisements. Hence, this large source of revenue, which is the lifeblood of other media houses, is severely compromised on account of Profit’s no-compromise policy when it comes to our reporting. No wonder, Profit has lost multiple ad deals, worth tens of millions of rupees, due to stories that held big businesses to account. Hence, for our work to continue unfettered, it must be supported by discerning readers who know the value of quality business journalism, not just for the economy but for the society as a whole.To read the full article, subscribe and support independent business journalism in Pakistan