#202 – An Update on Pakistan from Saqib Azhar, Creator of the World’s Largest Amazon Facebook Group
Amazon has opened a dedicated Pakistani marketplace with two new fulfillment centers in Karachi and Lahore, a local rupee payout system, and a mandatory HS‑code field for listings. Sellers can now store inventory locally, cut shipping costs and a Karachi cosmetics brand reported a 40% revenue lift.
Overview
In the latest Serious Sellers Podcast, Helium 10’s training lead Bradley Sutton sat down with Saqib Azhar, the founder of the planet’s biggest Amazon‑focused Facebook community. Saqib detailed Amazon’s fresh rollout in Pakistan, covering new fulfillment sites, payment options, policy tweaks, and seller‑focused programs—information that matters to anyone eyeing South Asian expansion or watching regional shifts that could impact current listings.
Key Points
- Dedicated marketplace — Amazon now hosts a specific storefront that lets Pakistani merchants list items for global buyers, similar to the main Amazon.com experience.
- Domestic fulfillment hubs — Two new fulfillment centers opened in Karachi and Lahore, cutting transit times and shipping fees for sellers who store inventory locally.
- Local payout system — A tie‑up with Pakistani banks enables direct earnings in rupees, removing the need for third‑party currency converters.
- Weekly training sessions — Saqib’s Facebook group launched live workshops each week that teach Amazon SEO, FBA tactics, and market entry strategies to Pakistani entrepreneurs.
- Customs documentation rule — Sellers must now attach the correct Harmonized System (HS) code to every product listing, a requirement that smooths clearance at Karachi’s port.
- Success case — A cosmetics brand based in Karachi reported a 40 % lift in monthly revenue after joining the new FBA program and using the local fulfillment center.
- Community scale — The Facebook group has grown to tens of thousands of members, with daily threads on product research, advertising, and cross‑border logistics.
- Prime roadmap — Amazon signaled that Prime eligibility for Pakistani shoppers could arrive within the next year, promising higher conversion rates for participating sellers.
How Amazon’s Pakistan Expansion Works
- Create a seller account — Entrepreneurs register a new Amazon seller profile using a Pakistani business email and verify local tax identifiers; for instance, a Lahore textile wholesaler signs up and confirms its GST registration.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Local fulfillment hubs reduce transit time and shipping fees, while direct PKR payouts save roughly 2% per transaction. Mandatory HS‑code entry streamlines customs clearance, and the upcoming Prime eligibility could boost conversion rates for Pakistani sellers.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon launched a dedicated Pakistani marketplace with fulfillment centers in Karachi and Lahore.
- All product listings must now include a correct HS code, e.g., "0904" for dried herbs.
- Direct payouts in Pakistani rupees eliminate third‑party converters, saving about 2% per sale.
- A Karachi cosmetics brand saw a 40% increase in monthly revenue after joining the new FBA program.
Recommended Actions
- →Create a seller account for the Pakistan marketplace in Seller Central > Settings > Account Info and verify local tax IDs.
- →Edit each product listing in Seller Central > Inventory > Manage Inventory to add the required HS‑code field.
- →Add a Pakistani bank account in Seller Central > Payments > Manage Bank Accounts to receive earnings in PKR.
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