Karachi

Dmart

Sea view, bahadurabad superstores chain (http://www.dewan-stores.com)

Makro Wholesale Center

Saddar, sharah-e-faisal, (http://www.makropakistan.com). also houses famous clothing brands like gul ahmed, kurta corner, cambridge and junaid jamshed.

Some of the major shopping malls in Karachi are:

Lavish Mall

Tariq road

Chase Value Centre

Khaid bin waleed road, behind tariq road is a department store selling at wholesale rates. you are sure to get the best value for your money here. www.chasevaluecentre.com

Dreams

Dreams, Mohd Ali Society near Kay bees restaurant, Lal Qila lane, Karsaz

Jumeirah Mall

Tariq road

Some of the main bazaars in Karachi that deserve a visit:

Tariq Road Bazaar

Also houses several malls such as dolmen, jumeirah, lavish etc.

Bahadurabad Bazaar

Adjacent to tariq road

Zamzama Boulevard

For upscale designers boutiques, clubs and restaurants.

Gulf Area Market

Many traditional vendors and more upscale boutiques and designer shoes

Hyderi Bazaar

North nazimabad, also visit malls such as dolmen hyderi, madni and saima mall.

KDA Market

Gulshan iqbal. comparatively small than other bazaars of karachi, but kda offers wide range of branded/non-branded clothes, foot-wear and cosmetics.

Atrium Mall

(http://www.atrium.com.pk), zebunissa street

Zebunissa Street

Formerly known as elphinistone street.

There are also three underground bazaars in Karachi at Bohri Bazaar, Nazimabad chowrangi and Liaqatabad No. 10. These are just a few to mention. On the whole, shopping in Karachi is an interesting, exhilarating because of the low prices! and often tiring experience.

You can shop to your heart's content, in the massive range of markets and bazaars that dot the city, or you can shop & enjoy one of the many modern shopping malls that are found across the city's more affluent sectors, namely Defence and Clifton. And don't worry too much about your budget; a recent survey by the Times newspaper UK found Karachi to be the second-cheapest city in the world.

There are a great number of shopping places in Karachi, ranging from the traditional bazaar to the modern shopping malls. A first-time visitor should try and visit the bazaars, The bazaars usually consist of many small vendors selling a variety of products from accessories to clothes to food and drink. In addition, there are larger stores which are more specific in their products. Also one would find that the bazaars are a more culturally enriching experience. One problem is that when shopkeepers find out you're from out of town, they will charge you double/triple prices. Try to go with someone local if you can to get a good price.

If there is one book you need to pick up about the people of Karachi, go for 'Karachiwala: a subcontinent within a city' written by Rumana Husain. It is a coffee-table book sold at all outlets of Liberty Books and copies of the book are also available at bookshops located in major hotels in the city. The book is priced reasonably, and it helps to understand the origins, traditions, history and lifestyles of the diverse communities inhabiting this metropolis.

buying pakistani currency

The Pakistani currency is the Pakistani Rupee Rs. It is usually advised to get your foreign currency converted in local currency before you buy stuff off course thats only applicable if you're planning to buy with cash not credit card. A number of licensed Currency Exchange Companies operate their offices located in various parts of the cities that can be used for the exchange. A passport might be required as an identification document but the requirement is often ignored. Some good repute currency exchange companies are Khanani & Kalia, and Galaxy International. Most large department stores and souvenir shops, as well as all upscale restaurants accept major credit cards. Some small shops may choose to pass on their 2-3% service free on to you should you choose to use a credit card, but this is negotiable so don't hesitate to haggle.

ATMs exist in most areas and accept major credit cards.