Gifts & guides
Gifts from Pakistan: 28 things worth bringing home, or ordering from abroad
What to bring back from Pakistan, what to send to someone who misses it, and what to order if you have never been. Twenty-eight gifts, from a two-dollar box of spices to an heirloom quilt.
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In this guide
Pakistanis travel with gifts. Go home for a wedding and you come back with a suitcase of shawls and spices; visit a Pakistani family and you leave with a tin of sweets. Gifts from Pakistan even have their own word: saughaat (سوغات), a gift brought from a place, carrying a little of that place with it.
This guide is our list of the best saughaat Pakistan has to offer, whether you are packing a suitcase in Lahore, choosing a present for a Pakistani friend, or ordering something for yourself from the other side of the world. Every item links to our full story about it, including how to spot the genuine version and which sellers ship internationally.
Gifts for the home
1. Ajrak
Cotton cloth block-printed by hand in Sindh with indigo and madder red, in geometric patterns thousands of years old. In Sindh, an ajrak is the gift of respect, draped over the shoulders of an honoured guest. It works as a shawl, a throw, a tablecloth or a wall hanging. Typical price: $25–60.
2. Multani blue pottery
Cobalt and turquoise flowers on white glaze, in the colours of Multan’s Sufi shrines. Vases, bowls and plates. Beautiful, but pack with care. $25–120.
3. Truck-art kettle
A working teapot hand-painted with the flowers, birds and borders of Pakistan’s decorated trucks. The most cheerful object on any kitchen shelf. Read more in our guide to Pakistani truck art. $20–70.
4. Onyx bowl
Banded green and honey-coloured stone from Balochistan, turned by hand into bowls, coasters and candle holders. Heavy for its size. $20–80.
5. Hala lacquerware
Wood turned on a lathe in Hala, Sindh, and coloured with bands of lacquer, red, yellow and green. Boxes, rolling pins and little bowls. $15–80.
6. Chinioti woodwork
Deep floral carving in dark hardwood from Chiniot, a town of woodcarvers in Punjab. Small carved boxes make good gifts; furniture is a bigger commitment. $30–200.
7. Camel-skin lamp
A lamp made from translucent camel hide, painted in gold patterns, from Multan. It glows like a lantern. $40–150.
8. Rilli quilt
Hundreds of cloth scraps cut into triangles and stitched into a patchwork quilt in rural Sindh and southern Punjab. Each is made by hand, often over months, and is an heirloom. $80–250.
Ajrakاجرک
Block-printed cotton shawl
Indigo and madder, stamped by hand on both sides of the cloth.
Multani blue potteryکاشی گری
Hand-painted glazed ceramics
Cobalt and turquoise on white, the colours of Multan’s shrines.
Truck-art kettleٹرک آرٹ
Hand-painted metal kettle
The painting on Pakistan’s trucks, shrunk to fit a kitchen shelf.
Gifts to wear
9. Khussa
Pointed, flat leather slip-ons embroidered with gold or silver thread, the shoe of Punjabi weddings. For women and men. $25–70.
10. Peshawari chappal
The crossed-strap leather sandal of Peshawar, built to last for years. See our Peshawari chappal buyer’s guide for sizing. $40–120.
11. Chitrali pakol
A soft wool cap with a rolled brim, from the mountains of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. Warm, light and very handsome. $15–40.
12. Sindhi topi
A round cap covered in embroidery and tiny mirrors, with an arch cut out at the front. Worn with an ajrak, it is the symbol of Sindhi pride. $10–35.
13. Hyderabadi bangles
Glass bangles in every colour, sold by the dozen, from Hyderabad, Sindh, which supplies all of Pakistan. A classic gift for Eid and weddings. $8–40.
14. Lawn suit
Fine printed cotton for summer, sold as an unstitched three-piece suit: shirt, trousers and dupatta. Each spring Pakistani designers release new lawn collections. $30–120.
15. Balochi embroidery
Dresses and panels covered in needlework so dense the cloth almost disappears, from Balochistan. A serious, collectable piece. $60–300.
Khussaکھسہ
Embroidered leather slippers
Pointed leather slip-ons, embroidered with gold thread.
Peshawari chappalپشاوری چپل
Leather sandals with crossed straps
The sandal of the frontier, built to last a decade.
Chitrali pakolپکول
Rolled wool cap
A soft wool cap with a rolled brim, made for mountain winters.
Gifts for the kitchen
16. Khewra pink salt
The “Himalayan” pink salt sold around the world is mined in Pakistan. A salt lamp, a cooking block or a jar of crystals with a note telling the true story makes a good small gift. Read where Himalayan salt really comes from. $8–40.
17. Shan masala
Boxes of spice mix, one dish each, with the recipe on the back. Put together a set of biryani, karahi and nihari and you have given someone three Pakistani dinners. See our Shan masala guide. $3–8 a box.
18. Tapal Danedar tea
The strong granular tea behind Pakistan’s milky doodh patti. Pair it with a truck-art kettle and our chai recipe. $6–18.
19. Rooh Afza
The ruby-red rose syrup of every Pakistani iftar. A thoughtful Ramadan gift. Read the story and six ways to drink it. $5–15.
20. Kahwa green tea
Green tea with cardamom, the after-dinner tea of Peshawar. Light, fragrant and easy to post. $8–20.
21. Pakola
Karachi’s bright green ice-cream soda. Heavy to post, so buy it locally if you can; it is pure nostalgia for Pakistanis abroad. $3–15.
22. Kasuri methi
Dried fenugreek leaves from Kasur, Punjab. Crumble a pinch into a curry and it smells like a restaurant kitchen. Light, cheap and loved by anyone who cooks. $3–10.
Khewra pink saltکھیوڑہ کا نمک
Rock salt from the Salt Range
The pink salt sold worldwide as “Himalayan” comes from one range of hills in Punjab.
Shan masalaشان مصالحہ
Pakistani spice mixes, one dish per box
Biryani, nihari and karahi from a Karachi box, with the recipe printed on the back.
Tapal Danedarدودھ پتی
Strong black tea for milky Pakistani chai
The strong, granular tea behind Pakistan’s milky, sugary doodh patti.
Sweets, nuts and fruit
23. Sohan halwa
Multan’s dense, nutty sweet made with milk, sugar, flour and ghee, sold in round tins. It travels well and is the classic sweet saughaat. $12–30.
24. Chilgoza pine nuts
Long, buttery pine nuts from the forests of the Suleiman mountains, roasted in the shell. A prized winter snack and an expensive one. $20–60.
25. Hunza apricots
Apricots sun-dried on rooftops in the Hunza valley, and cold-pressed apricot kernel oil. $10–35.
26. Chaunsa mangoes
In summer only, a box of Pakistani mangoes is the most loved gift of all. Our Pakistani mango guide explains when and how to get them abroad. $30–80 a box.
Sohan halwaسوہن حلوہ
Dense sweet made with ghee and nuts
Multan’s dense, nutty sweet, sold in round tins.
Chilgoza pine nutsچلغوزہ
Long pine nuts, roasted in the shell
Winter’s most prized snack, from the pine forests of the Suleiman mountains.
Hunza apricotsخوبانی
Sun-dried apricots and apricot oil
Sun-dried on rooftops in the valley below Rakaposhi.
Gifts for sports fans
27. Sialkot cricket bat
Sialkot makes cricket bats for players around the world, shaped by hand from English or Kashmir willow. For any cricket fan. $60–400.
28. Sialkot football
The same city is famous for hand-stitched footballs and has made World Cup match balls. $20–60.
Gifts from Pakistan by budget
| Budget | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Under $15 | Shan masala set, kasuri methi, Rooh Afza, Hyderabadi bangles, Sindhi topi, Pakola |
| $15–50 | Ajrak, truck-art kettle, pakol, sohan halwa, Hunza apricots, khussa, pink salt lamp |
| $50–150 | Peshawari chappal, blue pottery vase, camel-skin lamp, lawn suit, Chinioti box |
| A special gift | Rilli quilt, Balochi embroidery, hand-made cricket bat |
Gifts by person
- For someone who cooks: Shan masala, kasuri methi, pink salt and Tapal tea.
- For the home-sick Pakistani: Pakola, Rooh Afza, sohan halwa and, in summer, mangoes.
- For a host or new home: blue pottery, a truck-art kettle or an onyx bowl.
- For a wedding guest: khussas, bangles or an ajrak.
- For someone who has never been: an ajrak and a printed card telling its story.
Packing and customs tips
- Food: most countries allow sealed, commercially packed foods such as spices, tea and sweets, but rules vary. Declare food at customs if asked, and check before packing fresh fruit, nuts in the shell or seeds, which are often restricted.
- Liquids: Rooh Afza and Pakola belong in checked luggage, wrapped in plastic bags.
- Fragile things: wrap pottery and lamps in clothes in the middle of your suitcase.
- Wood and leather: some countries inspect raw wood and untreated hides. Finished, lacquered or polished goods are normally fine.
- Weight: onyx and salt lamps are heavy. Small pieces travel better than big ones.
Why buy the real thing
Many of these gifts are copied: printed “ajrak”, machine-made “truck art”, salt with no origin, Indian spice mixes sold as Pakistani. Buying the genuine version supports the makers in Hala, Multan, Peshawar and Sialkot who keep these crafts alive. Each of our product pages explains what the real thing looks like and where to find it.
Questions people ask
What is the most famous gift from Pakistan?
Popular choices include ajrak from Sindh, Multani blue pottery, khussa shoes, Peshawari chappals, pink Khewra salt, truck-art souvenirs, Shan masala and, in summer, Chaunsa mangoes.
What can I bring back from Pakistan through customs?
Most countries allow sealed, commercially packaged spices, tea and sweets, and finished crafts. Fresh fruit, nuts in the shell, seeds and some animal products are often restricted. Check your country’s rules before you travel.
What is a good gift for a Pakistani friend?
Something that tastes of home: Pakola, Rooh Afza, sohan halwa, a box of Pakistani mangoes in summer, or a beautiful ajrak.
What is saughaat?
An Urdu word for a gift brought from a place, usually food or crafts that carry a little of that place with them.
Can I order Pakistani gifts online from abroad?
Yes. Many Pakistani makers and brands sell through Etsy, Amazon, their own shops or Instagram and ship internationally. Each Pakistanee product page lists sellers that ship abroad.