Gold Pricing in Pakistan — How to Read the Sarafa Bazaar in 2026
Gold occupies a unique place in Pakistani households. It is at once an heirloom, a wedding tradition, a Zakat-bearing asset, and the country's most trusted hedge against rupee depreciation. Whether you are stepping into Karachi's Sarafa Bazaar to commission a bridal set, valuing a tola coin your grandmother left you, or simply tracking what your existing jewellery is worth at today's prices, knowing how the per-tola rate is derived turns you into an informed buyer rather than a passive one.
This calculator pulls the live international gold price (XAU per troy ounce) and converts it to PKR per tola using the SBP's indicative dollar rate. From that benchmark you can compute the value of any karat purity and any quantity instantly. The 30-day chart below tracks the rupee value of one tola of 24K gold so you can see, at a glance, whether prices have risen or fallen against your budget.
Tola, Gram and Troy Ounce — Pakistan's Gold Units
Three units dominate Pakistan's gold market. The traditional tola equals 11.664 grams (sometimes rounded to 11.6638g for international comparison). The 10-gram unit is borrowed from the Indian market and is popular for coins and small bars. The international benchmark is the troy ounce = 31.1034768g, which is the unit quoted on the London Bullion Market and CME futures. This calculator converts between all three so the number you see matches whichever way the shopkeeper or news ticker quotes it.
Karat Purity and Why 22K Dominates Jewellery
Gold karat (K) describes purity out of 24. Pure gold is 24K (99.9%), but pure gold is too soft for everyday wear — it bends and scratches easily. Pakistani jewellers therefore use 22K (91.67% pure) as the standard for jewellery, alloying the remainder with copper or silver for strength and a warmer hue. 21K (87.5%) is common in lighter wedding pieces, and 18K (75%) appears in modern fashion jewellery and diamond settings. The calculator computes the per-karat price proportionally — for example 22K is always 91.67% of the 24K rate per gram.
Local Premium and Making Charges
The international XAU→PKR price is your floor. Local sarafa rates in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Faisalabad typically carry a small premium of Rs. 500–2,000 per tola for import duty, sales tax, dealer margin and inventory cost. On top of the metal price, jewellers charge making charges (mazdoori) — often 8–18% of the metal value for handmade traditional sets, and 4–8% for machine-made modern jewellery. Always ask for these to be itemised on the receipt so you can resell or melt with full clarity.
Zakat on Gold
Gold above the Nisab threshold of 7.5 tola (87.48 grams) is zakatable at 2.5% once it has been in your possession for one full lunar year. The value used should be today's market price, not the price you originally paid. Use our companion Zakat Calculator to compute your full annual obligation including cash, savings, business stock and gold together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the live rate differ from my local sarafa shop?
The international XAU rate ignores Pakistan-specific import duty, GST, dealer margin and intraday rupee fluctuation. Expect a Rs. 500–2,000 per tola premium at the counter, plus making charges on top.
Is 22K gold the same as 916 hallmark?
Yes. The 916 hallmark certifies 91.6% purity, which is 22K. Reputable Pakistani jewellers stamp this on the inside of bangles, rings and chains. Insist on it before paying.
Should I buy 24K coins for investment or 22K jewellery?
For pure investment, 24K coins or bars (such as those from State Bank affiliated banks or international mints) are best because there are no making charges to lose at resale. 22K jewellery has dual use but carries 8–18% making-charge cost that you cannot recover when selling.
How is the per-gram price calculated?
Per gram (24K) = international XAU price ÷ 31.1034768 × USD-PKR rate. For other karats we multiply by the purity ratio: 22/24 for 22K, 21/24 for 21K, 18/24 for 18K.
Why does international gold suddenly spike sometimes?
Global gold moves on US Federal Reserve interest-rate decisions, geopolitical tension, inflation data, central-bank buying and currency strength. In Pakistan, an additional jump usually means the rupee weakened against the dollar that day.