Market playbook
Pakistan
~240M people · median age ~20 · consumer electronics import market $2.4B
Market lead — Umair
Retail structure
Overwhelmingly general trade. Mobile retail clusters — Saddar in Karachi, Hafeez Centre in Lahore — set the price the whole country pays. Modern trade is under 10% of the category.
What is hard
Import duty structure changes with the budget. Dollar availability and LC delays can strand a shipment for weeks. Warranty culture is thin, which means a brand that honours warranty is remembered for it.
What we have there
Existing distribution relationships across 4 cities, PSQCA experience, and a founder who has been importing into this market for over a decade.
Approvals you will need
| Approval | Covers | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| PSQCA conformity | Listed electrical and household products | 4–8 weeks |
| PTA type approval | Devices with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular radios | 4–8 weeks |
Customs and tax basics
- Customs duty plus additional and regulatory duties on many consumer electronics
- Sales tax at import, generally 18%
- Rates move with every federal budget — price with headroom
Where it sells
- Wholesale clusters: Saddar (Karachi), Hafeez Centre and Hall Road (Lahore)
- City dealer and sub-dealer networks
- Daraz and social commerce
- Modern trade — under 10% of the category
Cities we cover
Karachi · Lahore · Islamabad / Rawalpindi
Visiting
- Business visas with an invitation letter, which we provide
- Our team meets you at the airport and stays with you
- Best months to visit: October to March
Figures, approvals and timelines are indicative and change with each budget. Your market lead confirms them for your product.