Gold Buying Guide for Pakistan — Buy Smart, Avoid Losses
Most people lose money on gold not because the rate moved against them, but because of charges and deductions they never asked about. This guide covers the checks that take five minutes and protect you on both buying and selling day.
1. Check the day's rate before you enter the shop
Know the live 24K per tola rate and work out what your piece should cost: weight in grams × rate per gram for its karat. Our homepage and calculator give you both in seconds. Walking in with the number changes the whole conversation.
2. Confirm the purity and look for the stamp
Jewellery in Pakistan is mostly 21K or 22K. Ask the karat clearly, look for the purity stamp on the piece, and remember that 24K is for bars and coins, not jewellery — a shop selling '24K jewellery' deserves extra questions.
3. Separate the three charges
Your bill can include the gold value, making charges, and wastage/polish. Ask for each one separately, in writing. Making charges on ready-made pieces are negotiable in most bazaars; read the full breakdown here.
4. Always take a proper bill
The bill should show weight, karat, rate applied, and each charge. A proper bill is your proof on resale day and protects you if purity is ever disputed. Shops that resist giving one are telling you something.
5. Ask the buy-back terms before you buy
Ask: 'If I sell this back to you, what will you deduct?' Common deductions are a percentage on the gold value plus full loss of making charges. Knowing this in advance tells you the real cost of owning the piece.
6. For investment, prefer bars and coins
If the goal is investment rather than wearing, buy 24K bars or coins from a known dealer: no making charges worth mentioning, easy purity, and the tightest buy-sell spread. Keep them sealed with the bill.