Punjab is Pakistan's most populous province, a fertile plain fed by five rivers in the eastern part of the country. Home to the historic capital of the Mughal empire in Lahore, the province blends grand Mughal architecture, bustling bazaars, and vast agricultural land with modern industrial cities such as Faisalabad and Sialkot. Punjab is the cultural and economic heartland of Pakistan, known for its cuisine, festivals, Sufi shrines, and the ceremonial border crossing at Wagah.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Multani blue pottery (kashi kaari) - hand-glazed ceramics in the distinctive blue-and-white Multan style
Khussa shoes - traditional hand-stitched leather and embroidered footwear found across Punjab's bazaars
Punjabi juttis - embellished flat shoes, a Punjab-wide craft with regional variations
Multani mitti (fuller's earth) - a traditional skincare clay sold in blocks or powder at Multan's bazaars
Bahawalpur and Cholistani embroidery - mirror-work and thread embroidery on shawls, cushion covers, and clothing
Faisalabad textiles - towels, bedsheets, and fabric lengths from Pakistan's largest textile-manufacturing city
Camel-skin lamps and leather goods from Multan's artisan workshops
Phulkari embroidered shawls, a historic Punjabi needlework tradition using floral thread patterns
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Anarkali Bazaar
One of South Asia's oldest surviving markets, known for fabrics, ready-made clothing, khussa shoes, embroidery, and street food
Where: Old Lahore, near the Punjab Civil Secretariat and Lahore Museum
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-9PM; closed Sunday mornings in some sections
Liberty Market
Upmarket bazaar for embroidered fabrics, Punjabi juttis, bangles, jewellery, and designer boutiques ringing the circular market
Where: Gulberg III, central Lahore
Hours: Daily approx. 11AM-11PM
Ichhra Bazaar
Budget-friendly wholesale and retail market for fabric, stitched clothing, shoes, and household goods, popular with local shoppers
Where: Ichhra neighbourhood, near Main Boulevard Gulberg, Lahore
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-10PM
Azam Cloth Market
Lahore's principal wholesale textile and fabric market, with lawn, cotton, silk, and wedding fabrics sold by the metre
Where: Near Lahore Railway Station and McLeod Road, Lahore
Hours: Mon-Sat approx. 10AM-8PM; closed Sunday
Hussain Agahi Bazaar
Historic Multan bazaar known for its glazed blue pottery (kashi kaari), camel-skin lamps, and traditional khussa footwear
Where: Old walled city area of Multan
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-9PM
Suraj Miani Pottery Market
Cluster of family-run kilns and workshops producing Multan's signature blue-and-white glazed pottery and Multani mitti (fuller's earth) products
Where: Suraj Miani area on the outskirts of Multan, near the potters' quarter
Hours: Workshops generally open daily 9AM-7PM
Faisalabad Clock Tower Bazaars
Textile hub of Pakistan; eight bazaars fan out from the colonial-era clock tower selling cloth, garments, towels, and bedding produced in the city's mills
Where: City centre of Faisalabad, radiating from the Clock Tower
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-9PM; many textile shops closed Sunday
Bahawalpur Traditional Bazaar (Circular Road)
Traditional Cholistani and Sindhi-influenced embroidery, mirror-work textiles, camel-leather goods, and Bahawalpuri khussa
Where: Old city centre of Bahawalpur, near Farid Gate
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-9PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Packages Mall
Hours: Daily 11AM-11PM (extended during Ramadan)
Emporium Mall
Hours: Daily 11AM-11PM (extended during Ramadan)
Fortress Square Mall
Hours: Daily 11AM-10PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is standard practice in open bazaars such as Anarkali, Ichhra, and the Multan markets; starting at roughly half the quoted price is a common approach
Fixed-price stores, branded boutiques, and shopping malls generally do not negotiate
Visiting a market with a local or asking a hotel concierge for a fair price range beforehand helps calibrate offers
Buying multiple items from the same vendor often earns a better combined price
Politeness and a smile go further than an aggressive tone; bargaining is treated as a friendly exchange rather than a confrontation
Cash is preferred and often required at bazaar stalls; card payment is generally limited to malls and larger shops
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Bargaining is a normal and expected part of bazaar shopping across Punjab, conducted good-naturedly rather than aggressively; vendors typically quote an inflated opening price expecting negotiation down to a mutually acceptable figure. Prices are fixed in malls, branded outlets, and most supermarkets, where haggling is not customary.