Privacy Policy
Last Updated: [DATE] | Version: 1.0
Introduction
PakAutoMart ("PakAutoMart," "the Platform," "we," "us," or "our"), operating the website pakautomart.com and describing itself as Pakistan's first multi-vendor auto parts store, is committed to handling the personal information of its users responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect from visitors, registered buyers, and registered Sellers (vendors) on the Platform, how that information is collected and used, who it may be shared with, how it is protected, and what choices and rights are available to you. By accessing or using pakautomart.com, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy should be read alongside our Terms & Conditions, our Cookie Policy, and, for registered vendors, the Vendor/Seller Agreement.
Important Notice on the Status of Data Protection Law in Pakistan
Pakistan does not, as of the date of this Policy, have a fully enacted, dedicated federal data protection statute of general application. A Personal Data Protection Bill has been under consideration and remains in draft or proposed form and has not been enacted into law. In the absence of a comprehensive data protection framework, PakAutoMart has drafted this Privacy Policy on a best-practice and precautionary basis, drawing guidance from internationally recognized data privacy principles, while grounding its legal obligations in the laws currently in force in Pakistan, including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, which contains provisions relevant to unauthorized access, data breach, and cybercrime, and the Electronic Transactions Ordinance, 2002, which governs the legal recognition and validity of electronic records and electronic transactions. Should Pakistan enact a dedicated data protection law, this Privacy Policy will be reviewed and updated to ensure compliance with that legislation. Users should treat the privacy protections described here as PakAutoMart's voluntary and contractual commitment to them, rather than as a statement of rights arising from a comprehensive statutory data protection regime, which does not yet exist in Pakistan.
Information We Collect
PakAutoMart collects only the categories of personal information that are reasonably necessary to operate the Platform, process orders, verify Sellers, and provide customer support. We do not collect categories of data beyond those described below.
From all registered users (buyers), we collect: full name; email address; phone number; delivery/shipping address; order and purchase history; account credentials (such as username and password, stored in encrypted or hashed form); and information relating to the payment method selected at checkout. In relation to payments, PakAutoMart does not itself store full card numbers or complete payment credentials; payment is processed through third-party payment processors, and PakAutoMart's own systems retain only limited transaction-level information (such as order value, payment status, and method type) necessary for order fulfillment, accounting, and dispute handling.
From Sellers (vendors) who apply to list and sell products on the Platform, we additionally collect, during onboarding and as part of ongoing account management: shop or business name; business contact details (such as a business phone number, business email, and business address); and identity and business verification documents, which may include CNIC-type identity verification records and NTN-type tax/business registration records. This vendor verification information is collected specifically for fraud prevention, identity and business legitimacy verification, and to maintain trust and accountability within the marketplace. Seller onboarding and the handling of vendor data are further governed by the Vendor/Seller Agreement.
We may also automatically collect limited technical and usage information through cookies and similar tracking technologies when you browse the Platform. That subject is addressed separately and in more detail in our Cookie Policy, which should be read together with this Privacy Policy rather than treated as duplicative of it.
How and Why We Collect Your Information
Information is collected directly from you when you create an account, place an order, complete your delivery/shipping details, contact customer support, or, if you are a Seller, register and complete onboarding verification on the Platform. We collect this information because it is necessary in order to: create and administer your account; verify your identity and, for Sellers, your business legitimacy; process and fulfil orders; arrange delivery of purchased goods; enable communication between buyers, Sellers, and PakAutoMart regarding an order; provide customer support and resolve complaints; maintain accurate records for accounting, tax, and legal compliance purposes; and protect the Platform, its users, and Sellers against fraud, misuse, and policy violations.
How We Store and Secure Your Information
PakAutoMart stores personal information on servers and systems that we and our service providers maintain, and we apply reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards intended to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Account passwords are stored in encrypted or hashed form and are not accessible to PakAutoMart staff in plain text. Access to personal information, including vendor verification documents, is restricted to personnel and systems that require it to perform their functions, such as order processing, customer support, and fraud prevention. While we take reasonable steps to protect personal information, no method of storage or transmission over the internet is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Specific technical security measures, certifications, and infrastructure arrangements in place at any given time are operational matters that should be confirmed directly with PakAutoMart's technical and legal teams. [LEGAL REVIEW NEEDED: specific security controls, breach-notification procedures, and data-hosting locations should be documented and verified before being represented in more detail to users.]
How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information described above to: process, confirm, and fulfil your orders; communicate with you about your orders, account, or support requests; facilitate delivery of goods through our courier and logistics partners; verify Seller identity and business credentials during onboarding and on an ongoing basis; detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms & Conditions; maintain financial and tax records; enforce our policies, including our Return & Refund Policy and Shipping & Delivery Policy; respond to complaints, disputes, or claims, including under our Dispute Resolution Policy; and comply with applicable law or lawful requests from government or regulatory authorities. We do not sell personal information to unrelated third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
Sharing of Information with Third Parties
Because PakAutoMart operates as a multi-vendor marketplace and not as the seller of record for most listings, certain personal information must necessarily be shared in order for transactions to be completed. Specifically:
- With the relevant Seller for an order: we share the buyer's name, delivery address, phone number, and order details with the specific Seller whose product has been ordered, solely so that the Seller can prepare, pack, and fulfil that order.
- With third-party courier and logistics partners: we share the recipient's name, delivery address, and phone number so that ordered goods can be delivered.
- With third-party payment processors: where payment is made online, relevant transaction information is shared with the payment processor to authorize, process, and confirm payment. PakAutoMart does not itself store full card numbers.
- With government or regulatory authorities: where PakAutoMart is legally compelled to do so, such as pursuant to a valid court order, lawful request from a law enforcement or regulatory body, or as otherwise required under applicable Pakistani law.
Sellers who receive buyer information through the Platform for order fulfillment purposes are contractually restricted, under the Vendor/Seller Agreement, from using that information for any purpose other than fulfilling the specific order to which it relates, and from retaining or reusing it for independent marketing.
International Data Transfer
PakAutoMart's business and hosting arrangements may, in some circumstances, involve the storage or processing of data using service providers or infrastructure located outside Pakistan (for example, where a cloud hosting or payment-processing provider operates servers abroad). Whether, and to what extent, personal information is currently transferred outside Pakistan, and the specific safeguards applied to any such transfer, are operational details that have not been independently confirmed for the purposes of this Policy. [VERIFY WITH LEGAL COUNSEL: confirm actual hosting/server locations and any cross-border data flows, and update this section to accurately reflect them and any applicable safeguards.]
Cookies
PakAutoMart uses cookies and similar technologies to operate the Platform, remember your preferences, and understand how the Platform is used. Full details of the types of cookies used, their purposes, and how you can manage or disable them are set out in our separate Cookie Policy, which forms part of, and should be read together with, this Privacy Policy.
Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Policy, including for as long as your account remains active, for as long as necessary to complete and support an order (including handling returns, refunds, or disputes), and thereafter for such additional period as may be required to comply with applicable legal, tax, accounting, or record-keeping obligations, or to resolve disputes and enforce our agreements. Vendor verification documents are retained for as long as a Seller's account remains active on the Platform and for a reasonable period afterward for fraud-prevention and audit purposes. When personal information is no longer required for these purposes, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it.
Your Rights and Choices
You may request to access the personal information PakAutoMart holds about you, request correction of inaccurate or outdated information, or request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legitimate need to retain certain records (for example, completed order records required for accounting, tax, or legal purposes, or to resolve an open dispute). You may also update much of your account information directly through your account settings on the Platform. To exercise any of these rights, or to raise any question or concern about how your personal information is handled, please contact us at admin@pakautomart.com. We will endeavour to respond to and address genuine requests within a reasonable period. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request in order to protect your account and information from unauthorized access.
Children's Privacy
The Platform is intended for use by adults capable of entering into legally binding contracts under applicable Pakistani law, and is not directed at children. PakAutoMart does not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child without appropriate consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete that information.
Relationship to Other PakAutoMart Policies
This Privacy Policy operates alongside, and does not replace, PakAutoMart's other published policies, including the Terms & Conditions, Vendor/Seller Agreement, Return & Refund Policy, Shipping & Delivery Policy, Cookie Policy, Disclaimer, Intellectual Property / Copyright Policy, Anti-Counterfeit & Genuine Parts Policy, and Dispute Resolution Policy. Where there is any specific inconsistency between this Privacy Policy and another policy on a data-handling matter, this Privacy Policy shall govern in relation to that matter, unless expressly stated otherwise.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
PakAutoMart may update or revise this Privacy Policy from time to time, including to reflect changes in our practices, the introduction of new features, changes in applicable law (including the eventual enactment of dedicated data protection legislation in Pakistan), or operational developments. Any revised version will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date and version number. Continued use of the Platform after a revised Privacy Policy is posted constitutes your acknowledgement of the updated terms. We encourage users and Sellers to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or PakAutoMart's handling of your personal information, please contact us at:
PakAutoMart
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Email: admin@pakautomart.com
Phone: 042 111 786 786
