THE decades-old Shershah Mar­ket, the hub of imported used items, especially auto parts and engines, continues to face a dearth of consumers despite a surge in imports of used cars up to three years old and millions of vehicles already on the roads.

According to an importer, 40,000 imported used cars, mainly from Japan, landed in the country during the previous fiscal year, with 660cc vehicles making up 98 per cent. Around 18,000 more arrived in July-December 2025.

With more imported used cars on the roads, Shershah traders say footfall should have increased as owners search for axles, suspension and old engines. But market traders say they have been sitting idle as high prices of parts have been keeping buyers away from one of Asia’s biggest and oldest markets, located close to Lyari and the old SITE industrial area of the port city.

Soaring prices, easier alternatives, poor access have driven buyers away from Karachi’s biggest used auto-parts market

Traders say the market’s slowdown is being driven by a mix of factors like rising prices, easier alternatives in other markets and long-standing problems in access and basic facilities. These have pushed many buyers away from Shershah even as the number of used cars grows.

Why buyers go elsewhere

One of the reasons for the low turnout of buyers, traders said, is the availability of axles, suspension parts and shock absorbers in other small and medium-sized markets at lower prices. They say engines remain Shershah’s core line, but for most other components, buyers can now shop elsewhere.

Another problem is the lack of parking on main roads and even inside the market, traders said. Damaged, narrow internal roads, which they say have not been repaired for decades, further restrict access.

Many consumers prefer buying axle- and suspension-related items from other markets, which they feel are hassle-free and appear cheaper than Shershah Market. Some axle and suspension dealers also pay visits to Dubai and Far East countries to directly import parts instead of procuring them from Shershah.

Traders and repairers say the differences become more obvious when comparing rates across markets. Consumers witness price disparity in axle, suspension and shock absorbers in different markets, which, they say, points to the presence of smuggled parts compared to duty-paid parts that cost more. Chinese parts are also present, they added.

Kabuli vs Chinese

A suspension and axle maker in F.B. Area said that “car owners mainly prefer Kabuli front axle to a Chinese-made one”.

Kabuli parts, which refer to imported used parts regarded as higher quality, “are repairable due to their good quality even after usage for two to three years. Chinese parts lack satisfaction and are unable to be repaired. They can only be replaced”, he said.

For example, a Chinese-made front axle boot pair for a Suzuki Alto 2004 (1,000cc) sells for Rs7,000-8,000, while traders at Plaza Market demand Rs4,000-5,000.

Chinese parts are a one-time risk, he said, as they cannot be repaired and need to be replaced with a new pair after developing a fault. He added that axle makers also provide a six-month guarantee, while others ask consumers to check performance within a week.

Engines still draw buyers

While traders say buyers have drifted to alternative markets for several parts, Shershah has traditionally been known as a centre for engines. But even this segment, traders say, has been hit by rising prices.

Mohammad Saeed, dealing specifically in small car engines, said a 660cc engine is available for not less than Rs150,000 versus Rs25,000-30,000 five years back.

While complaining of surviving on only two per cent sales for the last four to five years, he said higher import duties on parts and accessories have pushed prices to the ceiling, thus keeping buyers away from the Shershah market.

Syed Wali, who deals in heavy vehicle engines, said an Isuzu 2,500cc engine is available at Rs350,000 compared to Rs130,000 four years back, while a Hyundai Shehzore 2,400cc engine is priced at Rs400,000 compared to Rs160,000.

A Toyota Hilux 2,200-2,800cc engine is now priced at Rs300,000 as compared to Rs150,000.

“From morning to evening, we have been waiting for the buyers to turn up as trading activities have been at the lowest ebb of five per cent for the last many years,” he said.

A troubled past

Apart from prices and access, traders say the market’s past still affects how people view Shershah.

A wave of fear had gripped the market owing to the killing of 13 to 14 people, including traders and customers, in October 2010, as Karachi was in the grip of rising ethnic and political violence.

In June 2012, a prominent trader was shot dead in the market after he refused to pay extortion money.

Zahid Malik Dehalvi, president of Anjuman Welfare Shershah Kabari Market, said that the Sher­­shah market has been free of any smuggled parts and accessories for decades, as traders are paying heavy duties and taxes on imported used items.

“We pay over Rs10 million as duties and taxes on one container carrying a load of 26 tonnes while smugglers clear the same by paying just Rs1.5m to Rs2m,” he said, adding that this is the main reason that the prices of auto parts in Shershah market are costlier than smuggled parts.

He said it was the government’s responsibility to provide basic amenities to the six-decade-old market as well as full security, as buyers and even traders still feel unsafe to even carry Rs50,000. He urged the Sindh government to ensure the setting up of police pickets in the market.

A detailed version of this story can be accessed at Dawn.com

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2026