Hussain Agahi Bazaar Multan: What to Buy and When to Go

Hussain Agahi Bazaar is the oldest bazaar in Multan, in the heart of the old city, and the place to buy hand-embroidered and block-printed Multani fabric, khussa shoes, glass bangles, dry fruit and sweets. Published listings give its hours as roughly 11:00 to 22:00, and it is at its best on a weekday afternoon, before the evening crowds arrive. It is narrow, loud and crowded, which is part of what people come for.

This guide is for the shopper who has decided to go: what the bazaar is, what to buy, how to bargain, and how to get there. For the wider picture of shopping in the city, see our guide to shopping in Multan.

What is Hussain Agahi Bazaar?

The bazaar is named after Syed Hussain Shah, a Sufi known as Pir Hussain Agahi, and is described as the oldest in Multan. It runs through a tangle of narrow lanes near Ghanta Ghar and the city's shrines, and it grew from a trading post on the old routes through Multan into the large market it is today.

Expect close-packed shops, hand carts, motorbikes squeezing through and shopkeepers calling out. Prices are generally accessible rather than high-end, and the shoppers are mostly locals, so you are buying alongside families doing wedding shopping.

What to buy

• Hand-embroidered and block-printed Multani fabric. These are the specialities. Embroidery here is often produced by women from surrounding villages, and appears on fabric, shawls and handbags.
• Khussa. Handmade embroidered shoes are sold in many designs. Try them on, as handmade pairs are cut differently from factory shoes.
• Glass bangles and costume jewellery. Cheap, colourful and easy to pack.
• Dry fruit. A dry-fruit section known as Gurh Mandi sits within the bazaar.
• Sweets. Sweet shops are wedged between the cloth shops, and there is a branch of the well-known Hafiz Sohan Halwa. Our guide to Multani sohan halwa explains what to look for.

For blue pottery, see our Multani blue pottery guide.

How to bargain

Vendors expect it, and cash makes it easier. A few habits help:

1. Look at two or three shops for the same item first.
2. Ask the price, then offer noticeably less and settle somewhere between.
3. Be polite; walking away is normal and often produces a better price.
4. Keep small notes, because change is a common haggling point.

We have not listed prices, since they vary by season, quality and shop, and we could not verify current figures.

When to go

Timings listed online run from about 11:00 to 22:00, and one source describes the market as busiest on evenings and weekends. Arrive in the early or mid afternoon for space to look, and stay into the evening if you want the atmosphere.

We could not confirm a weekly closing day. Ask at your hotel before you set out on a specific day.

Summer afternoons in Multan are hot, and the lanes are shaded only in patches, so drink water regularly.

How to get there

The bazaar is in the old city near Ghanta Ghar and the fort mound, so it combines easily with a walk from the clock tower: see our Ghanta Ghar guide. Vehicles are difficult in the lanes, and parking information is scarce. Take a rickshaw or ride-hailing car to the edge of the old city and walk in.

Keep your phone and wallet secure in the crowd, and wear comfortable closed shoes.

Is it worth it?

Yes if you want a working old-city bazaar with real crafts and sweets at ordinary prices, and you are comfortable with crowds. If you want fixed prices, air conditioning and easy parking, you will be happier at Multan's modern malls or main shopping streets. Pair the bazaar with the city's other sights: our guide to places to visit in Multan shows where it fits.

For wider planning, see our experiences page and travel guide.

Frequently asked questions