Shopping in Pakistan
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H Karim Buksh & Sons
For self-catering, try H Karim Buksh & Sons. The supermarket (lower level) of this modern shopping complex has a tremendous range of local and imported groceries. Soup mixes, spaghetti, cream biscuits, cheese, fruit yogurt, cereal - you name it, they've probably got it. Prices are a bit higher than at 'regular' general stores, but the variety (and often quality) is superior. Very handy if you are staying at Regale Internet Inn.
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Hunza Art Museum
Hunza-Nagyr wool is renowned for its durability, though it's being displaced by factory imitations. Hunza Art Museum is another reliable store, and can provide guarantee certificates for semiprecious stones and gems.
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Ferozson's
One of the biggest bookshops in Pakistan; an excellent range including novels, glossy coffee-table books and a brilliant selection of maps and magazines. Highly recommended.
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Panorama
Worth visiting if you're in the market for a leather jacket. This arcade also has lots of men's clothing shops.
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Mr Books
Mr Books
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Pakistan Handicrafts
The otherwise disappointing Pakistan Handicrafts sometimes has some standout handicrafts from Cholistan at affordable prices. Cholistani handicrafts include chungirs (bread plates made from date palm leaves), rillis (allpurpose cotton patchwork blankets), falasis (weavings of camel hair and cotton, used as carpets, wall hangings, etc), embroidered dupattas (long scarves), kurtas (long shirts with either short or no collars) and khalitis (ladies' embroidered purses).
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Millat Music Palace
One well-stocked music shop is Millat Music Palace, which sells dhols (traditional large Punjabi drums) and dholkis (smaller drums crafted from wood and goatskins), tablas (twin drums), harmoniums (the most expensive are made in Germany), sitars (the more-expensive ones have fine bone inlay work).
As well as some violins and string guitars (the most expensive are Yamaha instruments).
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Hall Rd Electical Goods Shops
If you need to repair or sell your laptop or personal stereo, there are a number of reputable places on Hall Rd Electical Goods Shops. Shop around and bargain hard to bag the best deal. Hall Rd is worth visiting if you're in the market for any other electronic equipment - or even if you just want to see how many TVs, hi-fi systems, satellite dishes, mobile and iPods can be crammed into one street.
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Hall Rd Music Shops
Another top spot to find CDs and DVDs (although with fewer English-language choices than Fortress Stadium) is on Hall Rd, off The Mall, which has scores of music outlets. Rafi Plaza is a good place to start. CDs and DVDs are at least Rs10 to Rs20 cheaper than those at Fortress Stadium, but only if you bargain hard, as foreigners are invariably quoted higher prices.
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Hussain Agahi & Chowk Bazaars
At the base of the fort mound is the sprawling bazaar and old town, connected to the rest of the town by seven medieval gates. The main markets are the Hussain Agahi & Chowk Bazaars, flanked by antique wooden merchant houses and echoing Multan's former importance as a trade centre. Sells, among other things, some good traditional handicrafts. Bargain hard.
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Camera Street
The best place in Lahore - indeed, one of the best in Pakistan - to repair, sell or buy a camera (new or secondhand) is along Camera Street, about 1km north of The Mall and dubbed 'Camera Street' by locals. You'll find a plethora of outlets, but be prepared to shop around and haggle hard to nail a winning deal. It helps not to appear too eager.
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Fruit & Vegetable Market
There's a fruit & vegetable market by the main bus stand and a more convenient one just south of Mizan Chowk, where you can also buy nuts and dried fruit. The peaches, grapes, cherries, musk melons and mangoes are especially delicious, sold by mobile vendors when in season, along with fat pomegranates from across the Afghan border.
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Chitrali Clothing Shops
There are plenty of shops strung along the bazaar selling Chitrali clothing, which make good souvenirs. A local speciality is patti, a fine woollen cloth that's made up into chogha robes, embroidered waistcoats or the classic pancake-shaped pakol cap (which should cost less than Rs 200).
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Almadina Perfume Center
Almadina Perfume Center has a gleaming display of gorgeous locally made perfumes. Whoever coined the fragrance names was certainly thinking outside the square - among the dreamy sounding titles like 'Secret Intention' and 'Hypnotic Poison' are the whacky 'Cigar', 'Madness' and 'Scarf' labels ... go figure.
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Longlife Mountaineering Equipment
Sales and rental. The secondhand gear is shipped from Europe via Karachi and can be a good buy. The new stuff is from China but is not 'export quality' so be careful. Sleeping-bag hire is Rs50 per day. Sold items may be bought back at half price. Reasonable selection of down jackets, stoves etc.
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Kado Gems Cutting & Polishing Centre
The follow-up project to Threadnet Hunza is designed to empower local women, in this case by training them in gem cutting, polishing and selling. At the time of research the finishing touches were being put on the shop which will eventually sparkle with rubies, sapphire, topaz and quartz.
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Clifton's Park Towers
For modern shops squarely aimed at the city's upper class, there are a number of upmarket department stores and various downtown boutiques. One slick shopping mall is Clifton's Park Towers, which has plenty of designerware as well as an upbeat food court.
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Carpet & rug shops
There's a concentration of carpet and rug merchants selling Afghani and Balochi carpets above the Shan Hotel and in the old Kamran Hotel complex opposite. Pricier carpet shops on Saddar Rd will accept credit cards and can help to arrange shipping.
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Handicrafts
Selling gemstones and old musical instruments, as well as woollen hats and waistcoats that vary greatly in quality. An NA bargain is the durable, hand-woven wool (patti or pattu) of Hunza and Nagyr - coarse, thick and tight, with an uneven grain.
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Bohri Bazaar
Saddar's main bazaar is the jam-packed central Bohri Bazaar. In every direction the footpaths are crowded with stalls flogging all manner of wares. It's a great place for handicraft shopping, from Kashmiri embroidery to Swati carved woodwork.
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Suvastu Gallery
This large emporium has a good range of handicrafts, carpets and jewellery. This isn't really a place for bargains; however, much of the stock is of high quality. Cheaper shopping options exist near the corners of GT Rd and New Rd.
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Sunday Bazaar
On the block between Municipal and Garden Rds in Islamabad's Aabpara, this lively bazaar springs to life most Sundays as a huge handicrafts market with carpets, leather, jewellery, clothing, Afghan curios and more.
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Jeweller's Bazaar
Running west from Chowk Yadgar, is the Jeweller's Bazaar. Down this lane, on the left past Mahabat Khan Mosque, are several alleys full of Afghan-run shops where you can search for bargains and antiques.
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Meena Bazaar
Meena Bazaar is a labyrinth of shops for women. Further up the street on the left is a collection of old Sikh havelis (traditional mansions), with carved wooden windows and screens.
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Langay Bazaar
Close to the Lahore Fort, Langay Bazaar is the area to find musical instruments. Competition between shops is high, so it's worth looking around and bargaining hard to bag the best deal.
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