Away With The Steiners

What to wear in Pakistan as a traveller plus tips for packing. 

Sarah Steiner

Likely one of the first questions you will have when thinking about packing for your trip is about what to wear in Pakistan as a tourist.  It is a country of huge diversity in terms of terrain and culture, and given the differences it can be difficult to know what to wear in Pakistan.   

The reality is that packing, appropriate and practical dress and clothing for travel in Pakistan largely depends on where you are going and the trip you are about to embark on. 

I am one of those guilty of overpacking for my first trip to Pakistan.   

But fast forward to now and we’ve travelled four more times to Pakistan and I love the practicalities and the culture of dress.  

Here is everything we have learnt about how to dress for style and comfort and what to wear in Pakistan as a traveller. 

Is Pakistan conservative or modest? 

Pakistan is a traditional, conservative Muslim country that follows the rules of modesty in Islamic culture. 

What is the dress code for travellers to wear in Pakistan? 

There are no lawful requirements for a dress code for travellers to wear in Pakistan as such.  It is not like Iran where a hijab (headscarf) is a requirement for all women.  

Rather, the dress code in Pakistan follows the rules of modesty in Islamic culture that require a woman to be modestly always covered, and especially in public.  

It is a traditional, conservative Muslim country and as a traveller and a visitor it is best to follow this dress code when considering what to wear in Pakistan.

How conservative do travellers need to be? 

Local women dress conservatively and are fully covered in Pakistan.  So as a traveller, it’s important to respect the culture and do the same.

Women are not required to wear a hijab (headscarf) in Pakitstan. 

What do locals wear in Pakistan? 

Pakistan is a country of diversity in terms of terrain, temperature and culture.  The clothes that locals wear in Pakistan varies accordingly. 

What do local women wear in Pakistan? 

Most women wear traditional clothing in Pakistan.  Though the style of dress that women wear in Pakistan does vary in levels of conservativity by region and culture. 

The Shalwar Kameez is the most common traditional outfit worn by women.  The outfits consist of loose-fitting trousers (shalwar) and a long tunic (kameez) worn with a dupatta (scarf).  Usually, these shalwar kameez are beautifully bright in colour!  

In some regions of Pakistan, like Peshawar and Multan, women traditionally dress more conservatively.  In these cities it is common to see women wearing burqa (full-body garment) or niqab (face veil). 

What to wear in Pakistan as a traveller.
A lady in a burqa in the old streets inside the Walled City of Lahore.
Women with shawls on and shalwar kameez near Shahi Hammam in Lahore.

What do local men wear in Pakistan? 

The Shalwar Kameez is the most common traditional outfit that local men wear in Pakistan.  The outfit consists of a long tunic (kameez) and loose trousers (shalwar). 

Men in Pakistan wear a variety of hats including the topi, Sindhi topi, karakul, fez, and pakol. 

The Pakol or Pakul is a soft, flat, rolled-up, round-topped men’s cap, usually worn in northern Pakistan. The topi is a prayer cap, and the Sindhi topi is a mirrored cap with an opening in the front for placing the forehead on the ground during prayer.  

Traditional shawls made of Pashmina or other warm materials are common in the northern regions of Pakistan.

Men in colourful traditional dress in the Walled City of Lahore.

What should I wear in Pakistan as a female traveller? 

There isn’t necessarily a ‘should’ in terms of what to wear in Pakistan.

Western clothes are fine, but you will want to cover everything except for your feet, ankles, hands, lower arms and neck. However, from my experience travelling four times to Pakistan I can confidently my choice to wear traditional clothing in Pakistan was appreciated.  

My go-to outfit in Pakistan is a Shalwar Kameez and a Dupatta (scarf), which is what most local women wear. 

The shalwar kameez is not just a comfortable and practical choice, but it also represents modesty and elegance.  The Dupatta (scarf) that women wear in Pakistan is a respectful nod to modesty.  

A Kurta with loose trousers (not tights) or jeans is fine too.  Just make sure the Kurta or top that you choose is more conservative than modest in terms of length.  

What should I wear in Pakistan as a male traveller? 

As a tourist and non-Muslim, male travellers in Pakistan are okay to wear shorts.  

Although full-length trousers are expected for men when visiting a mosque and in general trousers are deemed more respectful in Pakistan.

What about traveling with kids? 

For travelling families, this is always an additional question after sorting plans for what to wear ourselves!  

There aren’t any standout needs for what to wear in Pakistan for kids.  But it really depends on the age of your kids.  

Local kids wear a mixture of traditional and Western clothing in Pakistan. 

Dressed warmly at Faisal Mosque in Islamabad in December.
A local man in traditional winter dress at Faisal Mosque.

Tips for blending in and dressing modestly in Pakistan

Aside from modesty, one of the best tips for what to wear in Pakistan as a tourist, is to dress with some efforts to blending in.  

Albeit we don’t exactly blend in anonymously as a travelling New Zealand family with two blonde kids.  But the point is more about dressing with confidence that gives the impression this isn’t your first rodeo.  

Blending in means you don’t stand out like a complete newbie and someone who can be taken advantage of.  Though Pakistan is still not exactly swarming with tourists.  Dressing traditionally or with at least conscious efforts to blend in modestly is appreciated. 

The Shalwar Kameez with Dupatta (scarf) serves well as a nod to modesty as well as being a comfortable option in the hot weather.

Locals wear that kind of outfit for a reason.  Plus, when in Rome do as the Romans right?  

In my beautifully bright shalwar kameez that I was gifted in Karachi.

Where do you buy traditional clothes to wear in Pakistan? 

This is my favourite part of talking about what to wear in Pakistan! 

The colours of traditional Pakistani women’s shalwar kameez is exciting to be a part of.  (Western clothing seems dubiously dull by comparison!).  

It is easy to find shalwar kameez that are perfect for what to wear in Pakistan as a traveller.  

The first option is to head for the markets or bazaars in your city of arrival in the country.  We usually arrive to Pakistan over the border from Amritsar to Lahore and head straight for Anarkali Bazaar in the old city to go shopping for shalwar kameez. 

In Islamabad, we go to Itwar Bazar and the G-9 Markaz (Karachi Company) for shalwar kameez. 

In Karachi, Zainab Market is the best place for local clothes shopping. 

What about shopping malls and clothing brands? 

Aside from the markets, there are plenty of chain stores and shopping malls stocking traditional clothes to wear in Pakistan.

These are the main shopping malls in the cities:

We tend to stick to the same brands and shops each time we go and have found a few favourites we recommend for what to wear in Pakistan.

Generation Store is a great choice in Lahore for beautiful shalwar kameez.

Sapphire and He & She are always our first stop in Islamabad.  

There is a Sapphire in Safa Gold Mall and Centaurus Mall.  We also shop at He & She at Karachi Company or in F-7 near Safa Gold Mall. 

What to wear in Pakistan in winter

It does get cold during the winter in Pakistan.  If you are travelling to the north and the mountains you will need proper jackets and warm clothing and shoes to wear in Pakistan during the winter. 

We first travelled to Pakistan in the winter arriving overland from Amritsar to Lahore and the atmosphere clothing-wise was completely different.  At this time of year peoples clothing even seemed to be a darker and more sombre fabric than the usually vibrant colours of Punjab. 

Because it gets dark and cold so early in the day, many local men and women wear scarves and shawls made of pashmina and wool.  

We headed for Anarkali Bazar to stock up on winter clothes and jackets before heading back from the warm of Asia to the cold of Europe! 

What to wear in Pakistan in summer

The lightweight material of summer shalwar kameez makes them the ideal choice for what to wear in Pakistan in the heat.  The long sleeves (or ¾ sleeves) help to keep the sun off.  

Otherwise for women, oversized blouses or lightweight travel shirts are good to wear and the looseness means you’ll have a bit more airflow. 

What about packing for the rainy season or monsoon in Pakistan? 

Heavy rains are not the first thing that springs to mind when considering what to wear in Pakistan and what to pack.  But bear in mind that Pakistan has the usual four annual seasons plus a monsoon season. 

Even in the northern states of Punjab and near Islamabad, the rainy season can be an issue.  It usually happens without warning and the chances are that combined with the previously hot and sticky weather you might not have throught to pack rainwear.  

However, the reality is the downpours often don’t last long.  Locals choose to shelter under the bridges or inside shops and wait until the rain stops. 

The monsoon and rainy seasons in Pakistan are usually between July and August.

Be sure to cover up with long-sleeves and long trousers to protect against mosquitos and mosquito-borne viruses that are notorious in India during the monsoon season. 

A friendly welcome to Taxila.
A rather beautiful but drenched dupatta during the monsoon in Islamabad.

What footwear is best? 

As New Zealanders, we love our Jandals (you call them flip-flops).  

But traveling in Pakistan and especially in the megacities your feet can be vulnerable with the crowds, lack of pavements, rubbish and rubble

I do take a pair of Jandals (flip-flops) to wear inside accommodation.  You usually need to remove your shoes on entering a guesthouse though larger hotels are different.  But out and about sturdy sandals or covered sneakers are best. 

Buying stuff if you’ve forgotten anything 

Honestly, don’t stress too much about packing for Pakistan. 

There are modern and convenient shopping malls and large supermarkets.  You can pick up any forgotten clothes, shoes, underwear, bags or anything you need for travel in the subcontinent.  And it will likely be much cheaper than anywhere else too! 

Dressing for travel in Pakistan (at the end of the day)

The truth is it doesn’t have to be as hard as you may think and planning for what to wear in Pakistan will differ depending on where in the country you are travelling, who are you with and the activities you are doing.

Finding a balance between being comfortable in the clothing you’re wearing for travel and being conscious of local customs and traditions is important for any traveller.  

The clothing and traditional dress of Pakistan is beautiful, colourful and practical and ultimately is a way of preserving and celebrating their cultural identity. 

I hope that helps with planning what to wear in Pakistan as a traveller! 

Read more about travel in Pakistan

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