Anarkali is one of South Asia's oldest surviving bazaars, and its lanes are packed with shoe shops, clothing stores, bangles, fabrics and street stalls. Many shops have been run by the same families for decades, on old tenancies and in cash. Government schemes for small traders have repeatedly targeted bazaars like Anarkali — so knowing where you stand matters more than ever.
Retailer schemes and registration drives
Over the years, FBR has launched schemes aimed at bringing small retailers into the tax net, including simplified or fixed tax arrangements based on location or shop size, registration through an app, and collection of tax through electricity bills in some phases. These schemes change from year to year and not every one applies to every market. If you've been enrolled — or received a message or bill under such a scheme — keep the documents; they are part of your tax history and may affect what you owe in your return.
What an Anarkali shop's return looks like
| Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Sales | Daily sales record — notebook, POS or both |
| Purchases | Wholesaler bills (shoes from manufacturers, clothes from wholesalers) |
| Closing stock at 30 June | Count at cost |
| Rent | Tenancy agreement / receipts (or pagri, if applicable) |
| Staff wages | Salesmen's pay record |
| Profit | Sales − cost of goods − expenses |
The owner files as a sole proprietor, with the shop's profit and a wealth statement.
Shoes: the stock problem
Shoe shops carry many sizes and styles; unsold sizes accumulate. At year end, count stock by style and price it at cost. Old stock sold below cost in clearance sales should be recorded at the sale price — the loss is real.
Seasonal peaks
Eid, the wedding season and school reopening drive Anarkali's sales. A month-by-month total shows the pattern and supports your figures.
Street stalls and thalas
Stall holders and thala operators in Anarkali are businesses too, usually small. Many are below the taxable threshold, but some do substantial trade. A simple daily sales note, and filing if your income crosses the threshold, keeps you documented.
Old tenancies and pagri
Many Anarkali shops are held on pagri or old tenancies with low rent. See our Karim Block pagri page and Lohari Gate tenancies page.
Card and QR payments
Visitors increasingly pay by card or QR. Those receipts are recorded by banks — make sure they're in your sales record alongside cash. See moving to digital payments.
If your family shop has never filed, start now with the current year. Bazaars like Anarkali are visible to every registration drive; it's better to be documented before you're contacted.
Anarkali — questions we get asked
Send your documents, get a fixed quote
WhatsApp a photo of your CNIC and whatever paperwork you have. We reply with the exact fee before any work starts.