Essentials
- City
- Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
- Population
- Approximately 1.9 million
- Internet Speed
- Average 20-50 Mbps on fiber (Nayatel/StormFiber); 4G LTE up to 30 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Pakistani Rupee (PKR). 1 USD ≈ 278 PKR, 1 EUR ≈ 302 PKR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water like Aquafina or Nestle Pure Life (PKR 90 per 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and Type D sockets
- SIM Card
- Zong or Jazz (Best coverage). PKR 1,500 for 50GB monthly data
- Banking for Expats
- HBL, Alfalah, and Standard Chartered; Nayapay/Sadapay for digital payments
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses in Gulgasht Colony or upscale hotels like Ramada or Faletti's
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; cards accepted in malls and chain restaurants, cash essential for bazaars
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (limited), Zameen.com, or serviced apartments in Buch Villas
- Budget Accommodation
- Hotel One Multan or local guesthouses in Bosan Road area (PKR 6,000/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Gulgasht Colony for food and safety, or near the Old City for history
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Buch Villas (Secure gated community) or Gulgasht Colony (High-speed internet availability)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- PopCorn Studio Multan (Gulgasht) - Monthly desks approx PKR 15,000
- Best Cafe for Work
- Gloria Jean's Coffees (Bosan Road) - Reliable WiFi and quiet corners
- Networking Events
- Tech meetups at the PITB Plan9 center or Multan Chamber of Commerce events
- Social Events for Expats
- Multan Garrison Mess (Club activities) or InterNations online groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bykea (Motorbikes), Careem, and InDrive (Cars/Rickshaws)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Local private rentals near General Bus Stand; average PKR 1,000/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- No beach (landlocked); Chenab River bank (15 mins away) for water views
- Top Regional Airline
- AirSial or Fly Jinnah (Domestic routes)
- Top International Airline
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Emirates, or FlyDubai (via MUX International)
- Highway Access
- M-4 Motorway connecting to Lahore and M-5 to Sukkur/Karachi
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Multan Cantonment Railway Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Multan Metrobus (Red Line) - Single trip tokens PKR 30-50
- Regional Travel
- Daewoo Express or Faisal Movers (Luxury buses to Lahore/Islamabad)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Nishtar Hospital (Public/Historic) or Mukhtar A. Sheikh Hospital (Private/Premium)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Gym (Gulgasht) offers occasional yoga and wellness workshops
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Structure Health & Fitness (PC Hotel) or Shadows Gym (Gulgasht)
- Laundry Services
- Laundromat Multan or hotel-based services; PKR 100-200 per item
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda (Widely used; covers most of the city)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Multani Sohan Halwa (Rewari or Hafiz brand) and Mutton Karahi
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Shangrila Chinese (Vegetable dishes) or local Tarka Daal at roadside dhabas
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hafiz Sohan Halwa (Hussain Agahi) and Baskin Robbins (Bosan Road)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Hussain Agahi Bazaar for textiles; Metro Cash & Carry for bulk
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Daraz.pk (General), PriceOye.pk (Electronics)
- Grocery Delivery
- PandaMart (via Foodpanda) or Krave Mart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- No public bars (prohibited); social life revolves around late-night cafes in Gulgasht
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol production for Muslims is illegal)
- Wine Bars
- None; Non-Muslims can access limited supply via permit at high-end hotels
- Street Food Stalls
- Tariq Road Street Food for Gol Gappay and Bun Kebabs
- Popular International Cuisine
- California Pizza, Subway, and Zhan's Chinese
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Fort Kohna
- Museums & Art Venues
- Multan Museum (Damdama) highlighting regional history and pottery
- Historical Sites
- Musalmanan-e-Hind Monument and the remains of the Multan Fort walls
- Religious Sites
- Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya and Eidgah Mosque
- Annual Events
- Urs (Sufi festivals) of various saints and the Multan Literature Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Hussain Agahi and the Walled City (Androon Shehar)
- Theater Venues
- Multan Arts Council (Special cultural performances and plays)
- Local Markets
- Bohan Bazaar (Embroidery) and Chauri Bazaar
- Music Scene
- Live Sufi Qawwali performances at the Shrines on Thursday nights
- Street Art
- Blue pottery murals (Kashigari) found near the Shrine area
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at COTHM Multan
- Art Galleries
- Nigar Khana (Traditional Multani handicrafts and art)
- Historic Buildings
- Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) of Multan
- Local Heritage
- Blue Pottery (Kashi-kari) and Camel Skin Lamps
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Chenab River Bank - popular for boating and sunsets
- National Parks Nearby
- Lal Suhanra National Park (Bahawalpur, 1.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Cantonment Garden (Aam Khas Bagh) paths
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The top of Damdama (Art Gallery) overlooking the old city
- Birdwatching Locations
- Head Muhammad Wala at the Chenab River
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private farmhouses in the outskirts (Moza Jahangirabad)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- TCS, Leopard Couriers, and Pakistan Post
- Tech Repair Services
- Mobile Market near Ghanta Ghar or Hafeez Center Multan
- Table Tennis Spots
- Multan Garrison Mess (Membership required)
- Language Classes
- NUML (National University of Modern Languages) Multan Branch
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Qasim Bela Library or the Public Library near High Court
- Community Centers
- Multan Club (Social hub for older families and professionals)
- Gaming Lounges
- Portal Gaming Lounge (Gulgasht Colony)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Illegal)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. PKR 45,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = PKR 1,800,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. PKR 30,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = PKR 1,200,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. PKR 42,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = PKR 2,520,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. PKR 28,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = PKR 1,680,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. PKR 40,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = PKR 3,200,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. PKR 25,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = PKR 2,000,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 29% (Standard rate for companies in Pakistan)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% for filers, 30% for non-filers
- Tax System
- Residential status based (Worldwide income for residents)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (For income exceeding PKR 6 million)
- VAT
- 17% Sales Tax (GST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, taxation applies to income of foreign entities controlled by residents
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual tax based on rental value determined by Punjab Excise Dept
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx 3% Stamp Duty + 2% Capital Value Tax (CVT) for filers
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Reduced tax rate (0.25%) on IT exports/services for registered freelancers with PSEB