Sound investment decisions are built on economic understanding. At Chakor, our Economy section covers the macroeconomic trends, policy shifts, market movements, and financial developments that directly influence real estate, construction, and investment across Pakistan.
Whether you are tracking inflation, interest rates, or GDP growth, we break down what matters and what it means for your decisions.
The committee learned that the FBR could retain up to Rs390 billion in tax refunds at a time. Senators raised concerns about the financial impact of delayed payments on businesses and taxpayers.
During the meeting, a company representative told the committee that the business had been waiting six years for tax refunds exceeding Rs270 million.
The committee expressed concern over the prolonged delay and directed the FBR to resolve the matter within one month. Officials were also instructed to release legitimate refunds and submit a progress report within 30 days.
FBR officials reported that approximately Rs197 billion in tax refunds had been issued during the first two months of the current fiscal year, compared with Rs157 billion during the same period last year.
The authority also said it paid around Rs500 billion in refunds during the previous fiscal year.
Officials informed lawmakers that a first-in, first-out system was being used to process refund claims, aiming to improve transparency and reduce discretion.
Senators called for greater oversight of the refund process and requested details of tax refunds issued over the past five years.
The committee also reviewed other financial matters, including honoraria for medical staff deployed during the budget session and the implementation of a State Bank of Pakistan foreign exchange circular.
Further discussion on the foreign exchange issue was deferred due to legal and contractual complications.
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ISLAMABAD: The SECP has presented a draft package of amendments to the REIT Regulations, 2022, designed to release fresh capital and extend participation in the country’s real estate investment trust sector.
As per the proposed changes, the minimum threshold for real estate income and assets for REIT portfolios would drop from 75 to 65 percent, giving REIT Management Companies (RMCs) greater latitude to structure holdings and qualify a broader range of projects. Investment-based REITs would also gain the right to invest in vacant land and plots, subject to conditions still to be finalised.
The reforms would extend REIT access to new categories of capital, permitting group-level trusts and employee funds to invest in unlisted REIT schemes. Separately, the borrowing window available to RMCs from sponsors, directors and associated entities would be lengthened from 24 to 36 months, though existing unitholder-approval safeguards would remain unchanged.
To ease execution timelines, RMCs facing delays beyond their control could receive up to a one-year extension to list Rental and Investment-based REITs. The draft also opens a path for RMCs to acquire property directly from government entities through binding agreements, under conditions set by the regulator. A further clarification addresses Hybrid REIT Schemes, confirming that vehicles combining investment-based and rental components may earn and realize rental income during their holding period.
SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said the measures are intended to build a more enabling framework for the sector, capable of drawing in long-term capital and expanding the investor base.
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ISLAMABAD: The federal government has begun weighing proposals for a new local tax in Islamabad, contingent on the capital being granted autonomous unit status, as Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepare to open talks this month on the fifth review of the ongoing loan programme.
According to sources, the proposed tax streams would fund basic facilities and administrative infrastructure in the capital, including hospitals, schools, colleges and welfare initiatives. The proposals are set to be discussed with the IMF delegation during the upcoming review, with approved measures to be incorporated into the FY28 budget. A final revenue target has yet to be determined.
The process begins with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) drafting the proposals, which then move to a dedicated tax subcommittee formed to examine mechanisms for an autonomous Islamabad. Following subcommittee approval, the proposals will go to a committee chaired by the Minister for Planning, before reaching Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for a final decision, subject to IMF approval.
The Ministry of Finance has directed all relevant ministries to compile data ahead of the review, with briefings expected to cover structural benchmarks and reform targets, including energy sector measures focused on circular debt in the electricity and gas segments.
The government is banking on a successful review to unlock the fifth tranche of the loan programme. Pakistan is expected to receive $1 billion under the tranche, plus a further $200 million earmarked for climate-related losses, bringing the potential total to $1.2 billion.
The broader push reflects a wider roadmap for Islamabad’s administrative autonomy, combining a new local tax and resource-distribution framework with IMF-guided reforms to strengthen the capital’s fiscal system.
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ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) recorded a 56.9 percent increase in withholding tax (WHT) collected on the sale of immovable property during FY26, with receipts rising by Rs66.7 billion compared to the previous fiscal year, according to official data.
The property-sector levy, collected under Section 236C of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, was one of five major withholding tax categories driving overall WHT growth during the year, alongside contracts, imports, dividends and salaries.
WHT collected on contracts under Section 153 rose 22.3 percent, adding Rs162.3 billion in FY26 the largest absolute increase among the categories. Import-related WHT under Section 150 grew 16.5 percent, generating an additional Rs69.5 billion.
Dividend-income WHT under Section 149 increased 18.5 percent, contributing Rs30 billion in incremental revenue, while WHT deducted from salaries rose 3.8 percent, adding Rs23 billion to collections.
In percentage terms, the property sector recorded the sharpest growth among the five heads, though contracts remained the largest contributor to incremental WHT revenue in absolute rupee terms.
The figures suggest withholding mechanisms continue to anchor FBR’s direct tax collection, with real estate transactions emerging as an increasingly significant revenue source alongside trade- and salary-linked deductions.
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KARACHI: The ongoing Gulf war has significantly disrupted the long-standing flow of undocumented Pakistani wealth into Dubai’s real estate sector, with market sources reporting that funds once considered secure abroad are now being channelled back into property investments within Pakistan.
For years, Pakistan ranked among the top foreign investors in Dubai property, and the emirate was widely regarded as a reliable destination for capital of questionable origin. That dynamic appears to be reversing.
Hassan Bakhshi, Chairman of the All Pakistan Builders Association, estimated that approximately $60 million in undocumented funds had previously left Pakistan for Dubai each month an outflow that has now halted entirely.
Currency market sources describe a similar shift, noting that assets already parked in Dubai have become difficult to liquidate amid the instability caused by the conflict. Rising remittance inflows from the UAE are being interpreted as evidence that Pakistanis are repatriating liquid holdings rather than expanding them abroad.
This capital redirection has had a visible effect on Karachi’s property market. According to Bakhshi, prices in the city’s Defence Housing Authority area have surged by 50 to 60 percent since the war began, driven partly by the area’s reputation for secure property titles.
Other parts of Karachi have seen more moderate gains of 20 to 25 percent, according to property dealer Karim Dad, who attributed the rebound to improved liquidity and government efforts to stimulate the construction sector.
The disruption extends beyond real estate. Several technology firms that previously relocated to Dubai, citing a favourable regulatory climate and frustration with Pakistan’s internet connectivity and tax administration, are now among those seeking to recover stalled investments as the regional situation remains unresolved.
Analysts caution that any large-scale return of capital will likely depend on how quickly stability returns to the Gulf region.
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On August 25, 2026, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) board chaired by Chairman Sohail Ashraf approved a Rs152 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27, reported by Dawn as the highest in the authority’s history. (Dawn, Aug 26, 2026) That framing is worth testing rather than repeating. This report lays out the full budget, then examines three things a purely descriptive write-up would skip: whether the “record” claim survives scrutiny, whether CDA’s underlying finances support the number, and what CDA’s own track record suggests about how much of it will actually get spent.
1. The Budget at a Glance
Of the Rs152 billion total, Rs112 billion is earmarked for new and ongoing development works and Rs40 billion for non-development (administrative/running) expenditure.
CDA projects Rs152.5 billion in receipts: 74% from self-finance (plot auctions and taxes), 19% from revenue receipts, and 7% from an opening balance. By spending category, 74% goes to development, 24% to non-development, and 2% to the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI). (Dawn, Aug 26, 2026)
Development allocation breakdown:
Allocation
Amount
Covers
26 priority projects
Rs55 billion
Not itemised in board disclosure
63 new projects
Rs16 billion
Sector development, infrastructure, sewerage, metro buses
246 ongoing works
Rs13.5 billion
Existing projects in progress
Pending liabilities
Rs7 billion
Legacy payment obligations
Lump-sum provisions
Rs19 billion
Contingency/unallocated
Source: Dawn, Aug 26, 2026. These five line items sum to Rs110.5bn against the reported Rs112bn development total — a gap that exists in the original board disclosure, not something introduced in this report.
Two other decisions came out of the same meeting: the board approved Package-II of the cleanliness/garbage collection contract, outsourcing collection and transport to the Losar landfill in Rawalpindi for four years, and approved 10 additional acres for Daanish School Kuri. (Dawn, Aug 26, 2026)
3. Can CDA Afford Its Own Ambitions? The Land Bank Problem
CDA covers most of its expenditure through auctioning commercial plots it has not built a durable revenue base beyond its land holdings, and conducts two to three auctions a year. (Dawn, Aug 26, 2026) This isn’t an incidental detail; it’s the mechanism financing 74% of the new budget.
Live examples from this month: a three-day commercial plot auction in early August generated Rs16.4 billion, with a single Blue Area plot fetching Rs9.1 billion in one bid. (ProPakistani, Aug 4, 2026; ProPakistani, Aug 6, 2026)
That volatility, dependent on land market appetite, which fluctuates with interest rates, political stability, and buyer confidence, sits underneath a headline number presented as fixed and stable.
The clearest sign that CDA’s cash position doesn’t match its ambitions: just one week before approving the Rs152bn “record” budget, the same board again chaired by Sohail Ashraf approved seeking a Rs20 billion bridge facility from the federal government. A board member told Dawn: “Today, we decided to seek a federal government loan for sector development.” (Dawn, Aug 18, 2026)
That report detailed the specific commitments straining CDA’s balance sheet: the Expressway Service Road (~Rs5bn), the Margalla Road Extension (~Rs3.8bn), the New Convention Centre (NICEEC, near Malpur, built for the 2027 SCO summit lowest bid Rs37 billion after a design revision added steel components), the first phase of a new cricket stadium (lowest bid ~Rs8.9bn), two underpass projects, and a planned Safari Park. (Dawn, Aug 18, 2026; Zameen News, 2026)
An authority that needs a federal loan to fund sector development while simultaneously approving its largest development allocation in three years is, at minimum, carrying more committed spending than its liquid revenue currently supports.
4. Does CDA Deliver What It Budgets? A Mixed Track Record
The most concrete reason for scepticism about the Rs152bn figure converting into real infrastructure is what happened to last year’s budget. FY2025-26 included Rs17 billion for three tourism projects a zipline, a safari park, and a cricket stadium near Sector D-12 none of which broke ground. (Dawn, Aug 26, 2026) That same year’s Rs90.2bn initial allocation was also revised down to Rs81bn mid-year, a roughly 10% cut from the original plan. (Dawn, Aug 26, 2026)
This year’s budget carries similar exposure: Rs7 billion is earmarked simply for pending liabilities (unpaid obligations from prior commitments), and 246 separate ongoing works are competing for a combined Rs13.5 billion, an average of roughly Rs55 million per project, which is thin for infrastructure works if spread unevenly.
Whether the 63 new projects and 26 priority projects move faster than last year’s stalled tourism package is the open question this report can’t answer in advance; it’s the one to watch over the coming fiscal year.
5. The Governance Backdrop
Sohail Ashraf, who also serves as Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner, became CDA chairman in April 2026, succeeding Muhammad Ali Randhawa. At that transition, an unnamed CDA official summarised the structural problem now facing a much larger budget: “How long will we continue selling plots for development projects and paying salaries? There should be a new model to end dependency on the sale of plots.” (Dawn, Apr 2, 2026)
That same report flagged unresolved issues the new chairman inherited: stalled development in sectors I-12, I-15, E-12 and C-15; unresolved compensation for land-affected persons in D-13, E-13, F-13, C-13 and C-15; a chronic water shortfall (CDA supplies ~70 million gallons daily against ~220mgd demand); and a 1960 master plan that was meant to be revised every 20 years but has instead seen 51 piecemeal amendments rather than a comprehensive update. (Dawn, Apr 2, 2026)
None of these structural issues is resolved by a larger budget number a bigger allocation for sewerage and infrastructure only helps if the underlying planning and delivery capacity keeps pace with the money.
Separately, CDA did make one real reform in this period: cutting the property transfer fee from 3% back to 1% in April 2026, reversing a July 2025 increase that had been criticised for raising transaction costs. (Wirasat Real Estate, Apr 2026; CDA official release, Apr 9, 2026)
6. What Expert and Market Commentary Exists
Independent economists and real estate analysts have not published commentary specifically reacting to the August 26 budget announcement as of this writing; it’s roughly 48 hours old. What is available:
On CDA’s financing model specifically: the two insider quotes above (the “new model to end dependency” comment from April 2026, and the loan-seeking board member’s comment from August 18) are the most substantive on-record structural critique available, both from within CDA itself rather than outside analysts.
On real estate market impact: analysts cited by Wirasat Real Estate said the property transfer fee reduction should lower transaction costs and improve transparency in Islamabad’s property market, though this reaction predates and is unrelated to the new budget. (Wirasat Real Estate, Apr 2026) Separately, property-market commentary has argued that specific infrastructure catalysts like the Margalla Road extension matter more for sector-level property values (D-12, E-11, D-13) than headline mega-projects like the cricket stadium, whose realistic completion window has reportedly slipped toward 2028-29. (Milkiyat, Jun 2026)
On the macro backdrop: economists Naved Hamid and Waqar Wadho, commenting on Pakistan’s federal FY2026-27 budget generally, described minimal room for growth under the current IMF programme. Hamid put it bluntly: “We don’t really have any room.” (Dawn, Jun 2026) That’s a comment on the national fiscal picture, not CDA specifically, but it frames a genuine tension: CDA is scaling up its own spending sharply in the same year the federal government is operating under IMF-driven austerity, worth watching for whether federal support (like the Rs20bn loan request) materialises on CDA’s timeline.
If independent analysis of this specific announcement is published in the coming days, it would be worth a follow-up.
7. How CDA Compares
Lahore Development Authority (LDA): approved Rs88.613 billion for FY2026-27, under 60% of CDA’s figure. (ProPakistani, Aug 19, 2026)
Sargodha Development Authority (SDA): approved Rs697.415 million — illustrating the scale gap between the federal capital’s authority and a smaller regional one. (APP, Jul 10, 2026)
Federal/ICT context: CDA’s budget is separate from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, the local-government body. The National Assembly separately approved Rs23.22 billion for ICT Administration’s operations, part of a Rs968.041 billion demands-for-grants package passed in June 2026, and the PSDP earmarked Rs21.82 billion for the Interior Division (up 69.2% from Rs12.9bn), covering ICT Administration among other departments. (Business Recorder, Jun 23, 2026; Business Recorder, Jun 13, 2026) None of this federal money is part of CDA’s Rs152bn.
8. Critical Assessment
Reading the full record together, three conclusions seem more defensible than the headline framing:
The record claim is overstated, not fabricated. Rs152bn is a genuinely large budget and likely the biggest in three years, but Rs156.35bn (2021-22) and a reported ~Rs308bn (2022-23) complicate any claim to an all-time high. The one number that may genuinely be a record is the Rs112bn development allocation, which edges out 2023-24’s Rs107.463bn.
The financing base hasn’t changed despite the bigger number. CDA is more reliant than ever on volatile land-auction income, and needed a federal loan request the week before approving this budget the exact dependency an internal official called for ending back in April.
Delivery risk is the biggest open question. With last year’s Rs17bn tourism package fully unbuilt, Rs7bn in pending liabilities carried into this year, and 246 ongoing projects sharing Rs13.5bn, the gap between what’s approved on paper and what gets built on the ground is the detail worth tracking through the fiscal year, not the size of the initial number.
For anyone using this budget as a signal for real estate or development planning in Islamabad, the more reliable indicators are likely to be specific, funded, in-progress projects (like the Margalla Road extension) rather than the aggregate Rs152bn figure or the political framing around it.
9. Sourcing & Verification Notes
Wikipedia’s infobox for CDA still lists Muhammad Ali Randhawa as chairman; multiple 2026 Dawn reports, including the budget story itself, consistently show Sohail Ashraf holding the post since April 2026. (Wikipedia)
The Rs110.5bn vs Rs112bn gap in the development breakdown (Section 1) is present in CDA’s own disclosure as reported by Dawn and has not been reconciled publicly.
The FY2022-23 Rs308bn figure (Section 2) was reported as a board estimate pending Federal Cabinet approval; this report could not confirm whether that exact figure was the final approved budget for that year.
CDA was established June 14, 1960, per the authority’s own ordinance page — used to calculate any “X years old” reference. (CDA official site)
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday welcomed a high-level Saudi business delegation at the Prime Minister’s House and invited investors from the Kingdom to explore opportunities across Pakistan’s priority sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, energy, real estate, and information technology.
Prince Mansour bin Mohammed Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi-Pak Joint Business Council, led the delegation. During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed his respects to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Sharif underscored the “deep-rooted and brotherly relationship” between the two nations and stressed the need to translate this longstanding partnership into a mutually beneficial strategic economic alliance, in line with the Crown Prince’s vision for expanded regional cooperation.
He said the visit would build on earlier engagements and pave the way for new memorandums of understanding across various sectors.
The Saudi delegation conveyed interest in a broad range of investment avenues, including agriculture, ports, highways, airport outsourcing, real estate, energy, power distribution and information technology.
The Prime Minister described the present moment as an opportune time to deepen bilateral economic ties through both government-to-government and business-to-business channels.
In response, Prince Mansour thanked the Prime Minister for the warm reception and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment, through both government and private sectors, to strengthening commercial and investment relations with Pakistan.
The delegation is scheduled to hold further meetings with senior government officials and private-sector representatives during its visit.
The engagement comes amid Islamabad’s renewed efforts to attract foreign investment and diversify its economic partnerships, with senior members of the federal cabinet in attendance, underscoring the government’s emphasis on the visit’s strategic significance.
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Lahore has been a trading city for centuries, and nowhere is that more obvious than in its wholesale markets. From fabric sold by the bale to spices measured in sacks, the wholesale markets in Lahore supply shopkeepers, boutique owners, and bulk buyers from across Pakistan and plenty of everyday shoppers who just want retail-beating prices.
This guide covers the wholesale markets in Lahore that matter most: what each one sells, where to find it, and how to shop there without overpaying. Whether you’re a retailer stocking a shop or a buyer looking for a good deal, this list will point you to the right bazaar.
What Makes Lahore’s Wholesale Markets Different
Most of Lahore’s biggest wholesale markets sit inside or just outside the Walled City, a dense network of bazaars connected by narrow lanes that has operated as a trading hub since the Mughal era.
Each market inside this network tends to specialise: one street sells only fabric, the next only spices, another only shoes a structure that goes back generations and still shapes how the city trades today.
Newer wholesale hubs have grown up outside the Walled City too, especially for electronics and mobile phones, but the underlying logic is the same: buy in bulk, expect to negotiate, and go to the market built for exactly what you need.
Quick Comparison: Wholesale Markets in Lahore at a Glance
Shah Alam Market, also called Shahalmi, is the largest and best-known of the wholesale markets in Lahore. It sits on the site of the old Shah Alam Gate, one of the Walled City Lahore’s original thirteen gates, named after an 18th-century Mughal emperor. Today it holds close to 10,000 shops selling toys, cosmetics, kitchenware, plastics, garments, and electronics.
It’s the first stop for small shop owners looking to fill their shelves with everyday goods at low prices, though the crowded lanes and constant negotiation take some getting used to on a first visit.
Location: Circular Road, near Delhi Gate, Walled City
2. Azam Cloth Market
Azam Cloth Market is widely regarded as the largest wholesale cloth market in Asia, with a network of more than 25,000 shops packed into the lanes inside Delhi Gate. It was relocated to its current site in 1953, near Wazir Khan Mosque, and has supplied fabric to buyers across Pakistan and neighbouring countries ever since.
Every fabric category is here: cotton, silk, chiffon, linen, khaddar, sold by the bale rather than the metre, which makes this the go-to wholesale cloth market in Lahore for tailors, designers, and boutique owners buying in volume.
Location: Inside Delhi Gate, near Rang Mahal, Walled City
3. Akbari Mandi
Akbari Mandi is one of the largest spice and grain markets in Asia and the main source for wholesale grains, pulses, spices, herbs, and dry fruits in Lahore. It sits near Akbari Gate and takes its name either from Emperor Akbar or from the sheer scale (“akbari”) of its trade; accounts differ, but the market’s age isn’t in question.
Grocers, restaurant owners, and food distributors from across Punjab buy here, and the smell of fresh spice sacks is part of the experience.
Location: Off Circular Road, near Akbari Gate, Walled City
4. Hall Road
Hall Road is Lahore’s and arguably Punjab’s largest wholesale market for electronics and mobile accessories. What began decades ago as a hub for CDs, DVDs, and software has evolved into a dense concentration of shops selling phones, laptops, components, chargers, and repair parts.
Retailers and repair shop owners come here for bulk pricing on accessories and spare parts, and it remains the cheapest wholesale market in Lahore for anything electronics-related.
Location: Egerton Road, near Regal Chowk, Mall Road area
5. Moti Bazaar
Moti Bazaar is the Walled City’s dedicated wholesale shoe market, home to roughly 1,200 shops. Shoes bought here are supplied to retailers across Pakistan, and some are exported abroad. The market’s name is said to date back to the Mughal period.
Shop owners looking to stock footwear at bulk rates, rather than individual shoppers, make up most of the buyers here.
Location: Walled City, easily reached via Delhi Gate or Akbari Gate
6. Landa Bazaar
Landa Bazaar is Lahore’s wholesale market for imported second-hand clothing, footwear, blankets, and accessories, sold in bulk at prices that undercut every other clothing market on this list.
Items arrive as donated clothing from countries abroad, are sorted, and sold often by weight or in bundles to shopkeepers and individual bargain hunters alike.
It sits close to Delhi Gate and the Railway Station, near Urdu Bazaar, and includes smaller speciality sections for shoes and ready-made clothes within the main market.
Location: Near Delhi Gate, Walled City
7. Ichhra Bazaar
Ichhra Bazaar, on Ferozepur Road, blends wholesale and retail shopping for ready-to-wear clothing, lawn suits, and home textiles. Prices here run noticeably lower than the boutiques of Gulberg or DHA, which is why it draws heavy crowds especially on weekends and ahead of wedding season.
The market is also known for its shoe section, with dozens of shops selling locally made leather footwear at affordable rates.
Location: Ferozepur Road, Ichhra
8. Urdu Bazaar
Urdu Bazaar is Lahore’s wholesale and retail hub for books, stationery, and printing supplies. Textbooks, novels, office supplies, and printing paper are all sold here, and it functions as a wholesale source for bookshops and schools across the city, not just a retail stop for individual readers.
Location: Near Anarkali Bazaar
9. Kinaari & Gumti Bazaar
Kinaari Bazaar and the adjoining Gumti Bazaar, both inside Shah Alam Gate near Rang Mahal Chowk, specialise in embroidered and bridal cloth. Kinaari Bazaar has operated for more than a century and supplies embroidered fabric to larger markets across Lahore and beyond, while Gumti Bazaar a more recent addition is known for unstitched bridal wear, including pieces with minor flaws sold at a discount, and for shops that rent out heavy bridal outfits.
Location: Inside Shah Alam Gate, near Rang Mahal Chowk
10. Hafeez Centre
Hafeez Centre is Lahore’s main formal alternative to Hall Road, a multi-storey plaza on Main Boulevard, Gulberg, where authorised dealers sell mobile phones, laptops, and electronics at wholesale and retail rates.
Floors are organised by product category, the environment is air-conditioned, and pricing is generally fixed rather than negotiated, which appeals to corporate buyers and anyone who wants a warranty.
Location: Main Boulevard, Gulberg III
11. Anarkali Bazaar
Anarkali Bazaar is Lahore’s oldest surviving market, roughly 200 years old, and blends retail and wholesale trade in clothing, jewellery, shawls, and handicrafts. It’s split into Old Anarkali, known for food stalls, and New Anarkali, known for clothing and gifts. While not purely a wholesale market, many of its shops sell in bulk to smaller retailers from outside the city.
Location: Mall Road, near Lahore Museum
12. Rang Mahal Food Market
Rang Mahal Food Market, near Rang Mahal Chowk within the Shah Alam Market area, is a wholesale source for fresh produce, spices, and dry fruits. Restaurant owners and grocers buy here in bulk, and the market runs alongside the general trade of Shah Alam rather than as a separate destination.
Location: Rang Mahal Chowk, Shah Alam Market area
How to Shop Smart at – Best Wholesale Markets in Lahore
Buying from the wholesale markets in Lahore rewards a bit of preparation. A few habits make the difference between a good deal and an average one:
Negotiate, always. Opening prices are rarely final. Start lower than what you’re willing to pay and work up.
Carry cash. Most shops in the Walled City markets deal in cash only; card and mobile payment acceptance is limited outside plazas like Hafeez Centre.
Check quality before you commit to volume. Inspect fabric, electronics, or produce closely; bulk purchases are harder to return.
Buy in genuine bulk for the best rates. Per-unit prices drop as order size goes up; ask about minimum quantities before negotiating.
Go on a weekday morning. Markets are calmer and easier to navigate before the afternoon crowds arrive.
Plan for narrow lanes. Comfortable shoes matter more than they sound like they should most of these markets are walking-only once you’re inside.
Know your market before you go. Each bazaar specialises in something specific; walking into the wrong one wastes a trip.
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings are the easiest time to shop the wholesale markets in Lahore; shops are open, stock is fresh, and the lanes aren’t yet at full capacity. Fridays around prayer time see many shops close briefly, and weekends bring the heaviest foot traffic, particularly at Ichhra Bazaar and Anarkali.Â
FAQ – 12 Best Wholesale Markets in Lahore
What is the biggest wholesale market in Lahore?
Shah Alam Market is generally considered the largest general wholesale market in Lahore, with close to 10,000 shops. For fabric specifically, Azam Cloth Market is the largest wholesale cloth market in Asia.
Which is the cheapest wholesale market in Lahore?
It depends on what you’re buying. Landa Bazaar offers the lowest prices for clothing and footwear, while Shah Alam Market and Akbari Mandi offer strong bulk rates on household goods and food staples.
Can individuals buy from wholesale markets in Lahore, or only retailers
Most wholesale markets in Lahore welcome individual buyers alongside retailers. Savings improve with volume, but there’s usually no requirement to be a registered shop owner.
What is the best wholesale cloth market in Lahore?
Azam Cloth Market is the top choice for bulk fabric across all categories. For embroidered and bridal cloth specifically, Kinaari and Gumti Bazaar are better suited.
Is Hall Road a wholesale market?
Yes. Hall Road functions as Lahore’s main wholesale market for electronics, mobile phones, and accessories, alongside retail trade.
Do Lahore’s wholesale markets accept card payments?
Most shops in the Walled City markets are cash-only. Formal plazas like Hafeez Centre are more likely to accept cards or mobile payments, but it’s safest to carry cash everywhere else.
Final Thoughts – 12 Best Wholesale Markets in Lahore
The best wholesale markets in Lahore aren’t just shopping destinations; they’re some of the city’s oldest working neighbourhoods, each built around a single trade that’s been refined over generations. Whether it’s fabric by the bale at Azam Cloth Market, spices by the sack at Akbari Mandi, or electronics by the carton on Hall Road, there’s a market built for exactly what you need. Go in knowing which one fits your list, negotiate with confidence, and Lahore’s wholesale markets will reward the trip.
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ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has moved forward with plans to construct an underpass at Kashmir Chowk on Murree Road, with the project estimated to cost around Rs1.4 billion.
The proposed underpass, located at Dhokri Chowk near Islamabad Club, is intended to improve traffic movement at the busy intersection. Under the planned arrangement, vehicles travelling from the Serena side towards Rawalpindi will use the underpass, while traffic heading towards Murree will pass over its upper section.
CDA has opened technical bids submitted by Habib Construction Services and M/s Kamran Khan (Kundi Group). During the evaluation process, Kundi Group was declared non-responsive and subsequently filed a grievance with the civic authority. Financial bids will remain unopened until the complaint is decided. Officials expect the matter to be resolved within 15 days.
Separately, CDA is also preparing another underpass at the junction of Faisal Avenue and Margalla Road, where the PC-I is being finalised before the tendering process begins.
The projects form part of CDA’s broader road infrastructure programme aimed at improving traffic flow across Islamabad. Meanwhile, the federally funded 10th Avenue project remains incomplete, with about half of its work still pending despite its original 2024 completion target.
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 ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued a revised regulatory framework for housing finance, allowing banks and development finance institutions (DFIs) to finance up to 90 percent of a property’s value, up from previous limits under earlier circulars. The new regulations, which took effect immediately upon issuance, supersede several circulars issued between 2019 and 2021, and the central bank has directed all banks and DFIs to ensure strict compliance.
Under the updated rules, the maximum loan-to-value ratio has been set at 90:10, meaning eligible borrowers can secure financing covering up to 90 percent of a property’s assessed value.Â
Housing finance may be extended for a range of purposes, including purchasing a house, apartment, or plot; constructing on an already-owned plot; renovating or expanding an existing home; and installing renewable energy systems within housing units.Â
The maximum repayment tenor for standard housing finance is fixed at 30 years, while renewable energy financing has a shorter maximum tenor of 10 years.
To safeguard borrowers from over-leveraging, the SBP has capped total monthly loan repayments, including the proposed housing finance and any other consumer loans, at 65 percent of a borrower’s net disposable income.Â
Banks and DFIs must also obtain updated credit information reports through the State Bank’s Electronic Credit Information Bureau or a licensed private credit bureau, with approved proxy models available to assess informal income where applicable.
Additional safeguards include mandatory documentation of property title and ownership, lenders’ formal acknowledgement of received documents, and a general requirement that financed properties be mortgaged in the lender’s favour.Â
For loans up to Rs. 5 million, a lien supported by a Green Property Certificate may serve as sufficient security. The framework also mandates comprehensive insurance or Takaful coverage equal to the outstanding finance amount, and lenders must clearly disclose coverage terms and charges to borrowers.
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