Where is the mobile market in Karachi?

The best-known mobile market is in Saddar. Dawn reported the electronics market on Abdullah Haroon Road in Saddar as a major centre of the phone trade, and Arab News described Saddar's market as Pakistan's largest mobile phone market.

Where to buy a laptop in Lahore?

Hafeez Centre on Main Boulevard, Gulberg III, is Lahore's best-known market for laptops, computers and phones, new and used. Hall Road also has many mobile shops and repair shops.

Where is the mobile market in Rawalpindi and Islamabad?

Saddar in Rawalpindi has two large mobile phone markets on Bank Road. It serves both Rawalpindi and Islamabad, which sit next to each other.

Is it safe to buy a used phone from a market?

It can be, if you check the IMEI in DIRBS, test the phone fully, and get a written receipt with the shop's name. Markets also sell stolen and copy phones, so do every check before paying.

Are market prices cheaper than online?

Sometimes, and bargaining is common in markets. But compare with online prices first, and remember that an online shop's return policy may be worth paying a little more for.

Mobile Market in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad: Where to Buy

Online shopping has grown, but many Pakistanis still prefer to buy a phone or laptop in person, where they can hold it, test it and bargain. This guide lists the best-known markets in Karachi, Lahore and the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and how to buy safely in them. Some of our sources are several years old, so details such as shop names and floor layouts may have changed. Use this as a starting point and ask locally.

Karachi

Saddar and Abdullah Haroon Road

Saddar is Karachi's main area for mobile phones. Back in 2001, Dawn described the electronics market on Abdullah Haroon Road in Saddar as a major centre of the mobile phone trade, flooded with new and used handsets. In 2018, Arab News called Saddar's market Pakistan's largest mobile phone market.

What you will find: new phones, used phones, accessories and many repair shops.

Star City Mall, Saddar

Star City Mall in Saddar has phone shops. In 2019, ProPakistani reported that Infinix opened its first official store in Karachi there. Check whether a brand's official store is still at the mall before you go.

Tip: Saddar is crowded. Go in the morning, keep your phone and wallet secure, and be careful with cash.

Lahore

Hafeez Centre, Gulberg

Hafeez Centre is on Main Boulevard, Gulberg III. It is a multi-floor market with shops selling laptops, computers, phones, parts and accessories, new and used, plus many repair shops. Our used laptop buying guide covers what to check there.

Hall Road

PhoneWorld described Hall Road, near Mall Road, as a centre of Lahore's mobile trade, with a large number of mobile shops selling new and used phones and many repair shops. That report is from 2015, so the scale may have changed.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Rawalpindi and Islamabad sit side by side, and many Islamabad residents shop in Rawalpindi for electronics.

Saddar, Rawalpindi

Saddar is Rawalpindi's main commercial area. Wikipedia's article on Saddar notes two big mobile phone markets on Bank Road, which also has many bank branches and the Gakkhar Plaza shopping centre.

Islamabad

Islamabad has electronics shops and brand outlets in its main commercial areas and malls, but we did not find a reliable source describing a dedicated mobile market there. Many buyers combine a visit to Saddar, Rawalpindi with brand stores in Islamabad.

Buying a laptop in a market

Laptops have their own checks, and a busy shop is not the easiest place to do them. Ask for a few quiet minutes at the counter and:

Check the specs in Windows (Settings > System > About) and make sure the processor and RAM match what you are paying for.
Run a battery report. Open Command Prompt and type powercfg /batteryreport, then compare design capacity with full charge capacity.
Check Windows activation in Settings > System > Activation.
Test the keyboard, trackpad, screen, webcam and every port.
Ask whether the warranty is from the brand or the shop, and how long it lasts.

Our laptop price guide helps you know a fair price before you go.

What to bring

Your own SIM card, to test calls and mobile data.
A charger cable, to test the charging port.
Earphones, to test the audio jack or Bluetooth.
Your phone, to check IMEIs in DIRBS and compare online prices on the spot.
A short list of two or three models you are willing to buy, so you do not get talked into something else.
A friend, if you can. Two people notice more than one, and it is safer when carrying cash.

How to buy safely in a market

Markets are great for choice and bargaining, but they also sell stolen phones, copies and non-PTA phones. Back in 2001, a Karachi shopkeeper told Dawn they had no way to check whether a handset was stolen. Today you can check it yourself.

Check the IMEI. Dial *#06#, then check each IMEI by SMS to 8484 or on dirbs.pta.gov.pk. A phone that is not registered will need tax paid before it works with your SIM. See how to check PTA status by IMEI.
Match the IMEI with the box and the phone's settings.
Test everything: calls, WiFi, cameras, speakers, charging port and screen.
Avoid "JV", "patch" and "CPID" phones. See PTA approved vs non-PTA and JV phones.
For iPhones, go through our 12 checks for a used iPhone.
Get a receipt with the shop name, the IMEI or serial number, the price and the warranty terms.
Compare prices online first, so you know a fair price before you bargain.

Bargaining tips

Ask two or three shops for the same model before you decide.
Ask what is included: charger, box, cover, warranty.
Pay the shop, not a middleman, and avoid paying the full amount before you have tested the device.

Prefer not to go market to market?

Aalajaat, a marketplace where you post what you need and vendors in your city send you offers, is coming soon.

Where to Buy Mobiles and Laptops in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad

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