The REAL Cost of Starting a GYM in Pakistan | All the numbers, explained!

Pakistan has a massive fitness problem — and an even bigger fitness opportunity. Right now, only 0.2% of Pakistanis have access to gyms, despite Pakistan ranking high globally in lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension. At the same time, the global fitness industry has grown into a $125B+ market — and Pakistan’s journey is only beginning. In this episode of Unlocking Growth, we break down: The global fitness industry and the models that scale (big-box, boutique, hybrid) Why Pakistan’s market is deeply underbuilt — and what that means for founders What’s driving demand post-COVID (health, wellness, mental health, social habits) Local success stories already scaling in Pakistan Practical unit economics: CAPEX tiers, pricing, and payback periods for 4 gym models If you’re a founder, investor, or operator looking at consumer infrastructure in Pakistan — this episode gives you a structured starting point. If you’re exploring gyms and fitness clubs as a serious business or investment, we’ve created even more detailed resources that go beyond this episode: 🎓 Live Gyms and Fitness Clubs Business Webinar (with owners, and ecosystem experts) 👉 Sign-up: https://pakistanandcounting.com/events/ 📊 Detailed Industry Slide Deck (CAPEX tiers, unit economics, value ladder, and additional resources) 👉 Download: https://pakistanandcounting.com/resources/ These resources are paid and designed to offer deeper, more practical guidance for anyone exploring the business seriously. This episode features insights from operators, ecosystem builders, and industry participants actively shaping gyms in Pakistan: Ahmar Azam, CEO and Founder TriFit https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmarazam/?originalSubdomain=ae Naik Alam, Fitness Trainer https://youtube.com/@fitnessandtaekwondomasternaik?si=kDe5jZm25zWlUDJg Dosti Zahra Jafri, Founder The Strength Project https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthprojectpk/ Sheema Sultan, Founder Core https://www.instagram.com/corekarachi/ Tabia Fahd Basir, Strength Coach https://www.instagram.com/coachtabz/ Follow Pakistan & Counting on: X: https://x.com/PakAndCounting FB: https://www.facebook.com/PakistanAndCounting IG: https://www.instagram.com/pakistanandcounting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pakistanandcounting?_t=8rbVjlJIYOw&_r=1 LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pakistan-and-counting/ #foryou #fyp