The most striking feature about Islamabad are its Marakiz. These strategically positioned shopping areas within each sector cater to the day-to-day shopping needs of its residents. The large shopping squares have a wide range of shops from mobile phone franchises, meat and chicken shops, grocery stores, pharmacies, vegetable and fruit shops, lace centres, bakeries, bookshops, boutiques, food outlets and shoe stores. Almost every Markaz also hosts shops which sell abayas, scarves, prayer rugs, Islamic books, CDs and perfumes.

For the middle and working class there is the less expensive and rather drab environment of G-9 (Karachi Company), G-10, and G-11 Marakiz. While shopping in this vicinity, it is best to check the expiry dates of food tins, make-up items, confectionary, etc. Plenty of roadside vendors sell local children's clothes, hosiery items, ladies' undergarments, hair accessories, artificial jewellery, cheap T-shirts, watches, shoes, plastic toys and whatnot. The ambience here always reminds me of Icchra in Lahore with its teeming shops, harassed shopkeepers and jostling female customers.

Another important place to mention here is the Aabpara Market, one of the oldest and most comprehensive markets in Islamabad. It hosts a great variety of shops selling dry fruit, toys, consumer goods, kitchen utensils, sports and leather goods, school uniforms and everything that is needed to keep a household running smoothly. Located close to the centre of the city, Aabpara market is the place where everything is available for all and sundry at a very reasonable and affordable price.

Shopping in Islamabad can be a very different experience if you wander around Blue Area, Kohsar Market (F-6), Super Market (F-6) and the Jinnah Super (F-7). Blue Area is the business hub of Islamabad with classy shops selling branded clothes, footwear and accessories. Beautiful and expensive home furnishers and interior decorators also have a strong presence in Blue Area with the latest in fabrics and designs to transform your homes and offices. Most of these shops are very expensive and charge astronomical prices for their wares. Shops selling top-of-the-line fitness machines, electric goods and expensive crockery are also found in Blue Area.

Super Market in F-6, on the other hand, has a quiet and quaint feel to it. Maybe it is because of the abundance of handicrafts and souvenir items that are sold here including cushions, bedcovers, handbags, ladies kurtis, etc. adorned with Kashmiri and Swati embroidery. A fine collection of Pashmina shawls, rugs, carpets and wall hangings in intricate bead, thread and mirror work is also available.

The shopkeepers are quite candid about the prices too. In off-season, things get cheaper by 25-30 per cent and as soon as the winter season starts, they feel justified in setting exorbitant prices. Durrani's is the place to shop for art supplies, stationery and imported pens while Mr. Books and Mr. Books Too sell fiction, non-fiction and school books, magazines and stationery.

When it comes to the ultimate shopping experience, there's no place like Jinnah Super in Islamabad. Whether you are looking for cutting-edge fashion, used books, home décor or exquisitely crafted gold jewellery or just want to while away the breezy evening hours window shopping, Jinnah Super is the place for you. It comprises several blocks of buildings housing the best that the city has to offer and bargain shops exist side-by-side with fancy outlets with no dearth of customers for either.

Opposite the main entrance to Jinnah market you will find a “Floral Village” that provides a variety of seasonal flowers in simple and elaborate bouquets, not unlike those found near Liberty Market in Lahore.

A remarkable thing about Jinnah Super is the profusion of nationalities that seem to throng the place. In spite of security threats and terror alerts, it is not uncommon to find hulking Americans walking alongside Pashto speaking Afghans, petite Chinese, brightly garbed Nigerians and Arabic speaking nationals. Most congregate in Saeed Book Bank, a titan among booksellers in Islamabad and heaven on Earth for book lovers.

For those less plump in pocket, there are a multitude of old book shops that sell used books. However, the prices are still quite steep as owners of these old book shops are quite savvy and know the worth of classics and hard-to-find editions. A row of jewellers, shops selling exotic birds, aquatic animals, expensive handicrafts and rare gems complete the multifaceted proffering. The city's only departmental store is also situated here. The atmosphere in Jinnah Super is always very festive. If you get tired of shopping, you can always take a break and enjoy shwarmas, ice cream cones, French fries, chicken soup or hot drinks from the many vendors that do brisk business here.

In recent years, F-10 Markaz and F-11 Markaz have also experienced an exponential growth with all major shopping outlets opening their branches here as well. Then there are the weekly bazaars where hundreds of stalls sell edible and non-edible items at cheaper rates than retail shops. Though low in price, the quality is still quite good and the bazaars have an aura of a colourful fair with sounds, sights and smells to leave one mesmerised.