Shop Rules in Sindh: Prices, Receipts and Refund Policy You Are Owed
Sindh shops must show prices, give a receipt with batch and expiry dates, and post a refund policy before you pay. See the penalty and where to complain.
A shop in Sindh must show the price of every item, give you a receipt with the batch number and expiry date, and tell you its refund policy before you pay. These duties come from sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014. A seller who breaks them can face up to two years in prison or a fine of Rs 100,000.
Most shoppers in Karachi, Hyderabad or Sukkur never ask for any of this. This guide lists what the law says you are owed, what a good receipt looks like, and where to complain if a shop refuses.
Shops must display the price of every item
Section 18 says a seller must display a notice in the shop showing the retail or wholesale price of every item for sale. The only exception is when a price catalogue is available to hand to the customer.
So a shelf with no tags, and no catalogue, is a breach on its face. If a price is shown, it is the price you should pay. Paying more than the displayed price is a reason to complain, and our guide to reporting overcharging in Karachi and Sindh shows how.
Section 22 adds a rule on advertised prices. A seller who advertises goods at a stated price must offer them at that price for a reasonable time and in reasonable quantities. Advertising a bargain the shop cannot or will not supply is called bait advertising and is banned.
A receipt must carry five details
Section 19 says every trader who sells goods must give the buyer a receipt. It must show the date of sale, a description of the goods, the batch number, the original printed retail price, the date of manufacture and the date of expiry, the quantity and price, and the name and address of the seller.
| What the receipt must show | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|
| Date of sale | Starts your warranty and refund clock |
| Description of goods | Proves what you bought |
| Batch number, printed price, manufacture and expiry dates | Needed if a product is recalled or expired |
| Quantity and price | Proves what you paid |
| Seller's name and address | Tells you where to send a notice |
A scribbled slip with only a total often fails this list. Ask for a proper receipt, take a photo of it, and keep it until the warranty ends. If the shop uses a restaurant or hotel bill, the rules differ, and Punjab has its own electronic receipt law, which is not Sindh law.
The refund policy must be shown before you pay
Section 20 says a seller's return and refund policy must be disclosed to the buyer clearly before the sale is completed, by means of a sign at the point of purchase. The sign should be at the counter, not hidden on the back of a receipt.
If the shop has no sign, ask the cashier what the policy is before you hand over money, and note the answer. For an online order, see your return and refund rights when shopping online.
Section 12 adds that liability for a defective product cannot be limited or excluded by any contract or notice. In our reading, a counter sign saying "no return, no exchange" cannot remove a seller's duty if the product is defective. Ask a lawyer how this applies to a specific purchase.
Know the penalty and where to complain
Section 33(1) says a seller who breaks sections 18 to 22, among others, can be punished with up to two years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 100,000, or both, in addition to damages. A court decides the penalty, not the shopkeeper's neighbour.
For a faster route, section 23 lets any person complain to the Authority about breaches of the duty of disclosure and the price and receipt rules. The Authority is the Secretary or Director General of the Supply and Prices Department, who can impose a fine of up to Rs 50,000.
- Photograph the shelf or counter showing the missing price or refund sign.
- Ask for a proper receipt and photograph it.
- Write down the shop name, address, date and time.
- Complain to the Supply and Prices Department, or call 1299 for overcharging.
- If you lost money, send a written notice and follow the steps in the guide to a Sindh consumer court complaint.
We could not confirm a direct complaint email or form for the Department, so use the 1299 service, or write to the Department's office in Karachi and keep a copy. Sold short on weight? See how to report a tampered scale.
Common questions about shop rules in Sindh
Does this apply to online shops?
The Act covers sellers in general, but it was written with shops in mind and we found no online-specific rules in it. For online orders, use the return and refund guide and keep your order confirmation as the receipt.
Can a shop refuse to give a receipt?
Not under section 19. Every trader who sells goods must issue one. If the shop says it has no machine, ask for a handwritten one with the required details, and note the refusal.
Is a "no refund" sign legal?
A shop must state its refund policy, so a sign is allowed. But under section 12, a notice cannot limit liability for a defective product. A policy of no change of mind returns is different from a duty to fix a faulty item.
What does batch number and expiry on the receipt mean?
It lets you trace a packaged product. If a batch is recalled or found expired, the receipt proves where and when you bought it. Check the date on the pack too.
Do the same rules apply in Punjab?
Punjab has a similar duty under its own Act, explained in the guide to shop receipt and refund rules in Punjab. Check which province's law covers the shop where you buy.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 8 October 2026. We read the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014 (Sindh Act No. XVII of 2015) as published on the Sindh Laws website, sections 12, 18 to 22, 23 and 33. We have not seen later amendments. We could not confirm a direct complaint form for the Supply and Prices Department, and the Act does not set a filing fee. This is general information, not legal advice.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
