Gold Rate Today in Karachi
Karachi's gold rate is the national benchmark for Pakistan. The live table gives the international parity rate per tola, per 10 grams and per gram for 24K, 22K and 21K; the sarafa rate announced in the city each day may add a premium or a discount.
Live gold rate in Karachi (PKR)
| Weight & purity | Price (PKR) |
|---|---|
| 24K gold · 1 tola | live |
| 24K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 24K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 22K gold · 1 tola | live |
| 22K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 22K gold · 1 gram | live |
| 21K gold · 1 tola | live |
| 21K gold · 10 grams | live |
| 21K gold · 1 gram | live |
Parity rate from XAUUSD × USD/PKR. The Karachi sarafa rate is set by the bullion trade and can differ; making charges are extra. How we calculate
Why Karachi sets the rate
Karachi is Pakistan's main port, banking centre and largest bullion market, and the association representing the country's sarafa trade is based in the city. Each day it announces a rate for 24K gold per tola and per 10 grams, with figures for lower karats derived from it, and jewellers in other cities generally follow that announcement. When the international price moves sharply, the rate can be revised more than once in a day.
Because the same rate is broadcast nationally, the difference between buying in Karachi and elsewhere in Pakistan is mainly in making charges and shop margins, not in the gold rate itself.
Calculating parity yourself
You can check whether the sarafa rate is above or below the world market with two inputs: the gold price in dollars per ounce and the dollar–rupee rate. The chart above shows the rupee, since its moves matter as much as gold's. Illustrative numbers:
| Step | Calculation | PKR |
|---|---|---|
| Gold per ounce in rupees | $4,150 × 281 | 1,166,150 |
| Parity per tola (24K) | 1,166,150 × 0.375 | 437,306.25 |
| Suppose the sarafa rate is | 439,500 | |
| Local premium | 439,500 − 437,306.25 (about 0.5%) | 2,193.75 |
| Parity if the rupee were 278 per dollar | $4,150 × 278 × 0.375 | 432,637.50 |
The last line shows that a one percent move in the rupee changes the tola rate by roughly the same percentage, even if gold does not move in dollars. The 0.375 factor works because one tola is exactly 3/8 of a troy ounce.
Karachi's gold markets
The city's wholesale trade is concentrated in the older commercial districts of the city centre, where bullion dealers, refiners and goldsmiths work in close quarters and much of the country's jewellery is manufactured. Retail jewellers are spread across Saddar, Tariq Road and the shopping areas of Clifton and Defence, along with branded showrooms in malls. Prices for plain gold are similar between them; design, finishing and service differ much more.
- Bars and biscuits: sold by bullion dealers in standard weights such as 1 tola, 5 tola and 10 tola, and in 10 g and 100 g sizes.
- Bridal jewellery: 21K and 22K sets with haar, jhumka, maang tikka and kangan, often ordered weeks ahead of the wedding season.
- Diamond jewellery: usually 18K, sold mainly by branded showrooms.
Gold and the overseas Pakistani link
Karachi's market is closely tied to the Gulf. Many families compare the local rate with prices in Dubai, where gold sells close to international parity, and relatives working abroad often bring jewellery home within customs allowances. When the Karachi premium over parity is large, that comparison becomes more attractive; when it is small or negative, buying locally saves the travel and customs risk.
Buying tips for Karachi
- Check the day's announced rate before visiting, and ask whether the shop's quote is for 24K, 22K or 21K.
- For bars, ask about the refiner, purity stamp and the shop's buy-back price for the same bar.
- For jewellery, get the weight in grams and the making charge per tola or as a lump sum on the bill.
- Ask how much the shop deducts when you sell back or exchange, and whether it differs for jewellery bought elsewhere.
- For large purchases, a purity test at an independent laboratory costs little relative to the value.