What Do Female Tourists Wear in Pakistan? Dress Code & Tips
Are you planning to visit Pakistan and wondering about what do female tourists wear in Pakistan? If yes, you have come to the right place. Pakistan is undeniably a top-tourist spot for northern beauty, cultural attractions and delicious food.
As a female foreigner, when you travel to any religious country like Pakistan, you have to maintain a proper balance between wearing comfortable clothing and local etiquettes.
We have compiled this blog post on “What to wear in Pakistan as a woman” along with some tips for being respectful, conscious & comfortable.
What Do Female Tourists Wear in Pakistan?

For women, the traditional Pakistani clothing is Shalwar & Kameez. For foreigners, there’s no any hard & fast rule to wear shalwar & kameez but it is must to cover their heads and other body parts appropriately in mosques and religious sites.
Some cities like Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are considered as liberal cities where you can wear jeans and short-sleeve shirts without covering the head.
But if we talk about northern parts where you are requested to wear shalwar/ jeans with full length kameez along with covering your head.
It’s just a short discussion on Pakistani traditional dress female. To know proper dress code of ladies in detail according to different regions or cities, keep reading till the end.
What to Wear in Pakistan as a Tourist?
As a tourist, no matter whether you are male or female, there is a proper dress code for both men and women. Here we discuss the dress code for both in detail.
Dress Code for Women
Local women in Pakistan are fully covered with Shalwar, Kameez and Dupatta so it is good to cover yourself for respecting their local culture. This doesn’t mean that you have to wear same dresses but you will want to cover almost all parts of your body except ankles, lower arms, neck, feet and hands.
In major cities like Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, you can see that few of the local women wear western clothes. it means that you can wear western clothes too but not all the time. But in northern areas, religious sites and mosques, you will wear traditional dress along with scarf or dupatta.
Dress Code for Men
For men, the official dress code is not so strict like female tourists. Pakistan men wear the mixture of both western clothes and traditional dress like shalwar kameez. If you want to wear shirts, jeans and t-shirts, you can without any limitations.
Wearing shorts on public places like in walled city of Lahore may seem awkward. Otherwise, it’s fine to wear in Posh areas. Also, if you want to go to any best cultural, historical or religious site, it would be good to wear shalwar kameez for respecting cultural norms.
What Do Female Tourists Wear in Pakistan in Winter?
No doubt, winter time is the magical time of the year to explore famous attractions. If you are willing to visit Pakistan in winter, it is recommended to wear modestly and in layers to stay warm and fashionable. Here what you need to consider for winter clothing in Pakistan.
- For better warmth and style, wear rich fabrics in the form of velvet and silk.
- Layer heavy fabrics like wool shawls or jackets with your inner outfit to stay warm.
- Cover your shoulders and legs with appropriate clothing and socks to safe from chilling cold.
- You can cover your heads too by wearing silk wool caps.
- Avoid tank tops and lightweight summer dresses in winter season.
What Do Female Tourists Wear in Pakistan in Summer?
What to wear in Pakistan summer? Summer time in Pakistan is the time when warmth is at its peak. Not only you have to wear appropriate lightweight dresses but also save yourself from heatwave. You can wear breathable, airy and comfortable fabrics like cotton, linen and lawn. Here are some clothing options.
- Wear lightweight and comfortable shalwar kameez along with scarf or dupatta.
- Kurta is best if you do not want to wear kameez.
- One Pakistani traditional summer dress named as Lehnga Choli that consists of a long skirt, a fitted blouse and a dupatta.
You can wear western clothes but only in Posh areas of major cities like Lahore, Islamabad & Karachi etc. But if you want to visit religious sites or mosques, westerns clothes are strictly prohibited to wear and they mention too on the doors.
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What do Pakistani Wear on their Head?
Pakistani men wear different types of headgear on their head based on event, weather conditions and local culture of any region.
Pakistani men normally wear these things on their head:
- Turban that come in different styles like dumalla, larger rounder turban, parna and a smaller rounder turban that is often tied with a thicker cloth.
- Jinnah cap or karakul that normally wear by aged people.
- Fez, also called the Rumi Top.
- Taqiyah, one form of cap.
What do Pakistani Women Wear on their Head?
Muslim women normally wear hijab as an identity that reflect their strong beliefs or religious values. The other to Hijab is veil that cover their body from head to feet. The Hijab is supported by the saying of Quran and Hadith.
Hijab comes in variety of styles based on different interests or preferences. Women who do not wear Hijab normally cover themselves with traditional dress like Shalwar & Kameez along with covering their head with dupatta or scarf.
What Not to Wear in Pakistan as a Female Tourist?
As we earlier stated that there’s not any official law for women foreigner dressing in Pakistan but respecting the local dress etiquettes are mandatory. “What to wear in Pakistan?” depends on your travel itinerary, weather conditions and sites you are going to explore.
Firstly, wear shorts only in private places like private hotels, restrooms and avoid wearing in public places. Also, the t-shirts are not recommended to wear in open public places. If you want to wear t-shirt or shirt, try to choose loose shirt and avoid wearing at religious sites or places.
As for jeans and leggings, it is Ok to wear in major cities like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Do not commit a mistake to wear them in over-crowded spots.
Packing Tips for Female Travelers When Visiting Pakistan
The following are some essential best packing tips for women when want to go to Pakistan:
- If you want to travel in summer, it is good to pack summer essentials. But for winter time, do not forget to pack warm clothes and other essentials.
- Must bring scarf, dupatta or shalwar & kameez with yourself.
- Try to pack basic necessities like hand sanitizer, wipes, insect repellent and sunscreen to prevent any illness or injury.
- For trekking and hiking purposes, bring trekking shoes, clothes and other essentials.
- Warm socks, gloves and cap for winter season.
- Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses during winter season to save yourself from heatwave issues.
With these tips, you can make your Pakistan tour memorable and exciting.
Final Words!
We hope that you have found exactly in this helpful guide what you needed to know and helped you decide “what do female tourists wear in Pakistan”. The dress code of Pakistan for female tourists is different as compared to other countries.
Whether you want to travel solo or with friends or family, keep these things in mind for better experience. Anybody going should carefully consider what to dress and maintain a proper balance between comfort, respect and cultural etiquettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the dress code for tourists in Pakistan?
There’s no any official dress code for tourists in Pakistan. Female tourists need to dress appropriately to respect local cultural norms.
2. What do ladies wear in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, ladies normally wear Shalwar & Kameez with shawl or dupatta. Also, there is a trend of hijab or veil as a religious norm.
3. Do tourists need to wear hijab in Pakistan?
It’s all up to you. Overall, there is no need to wear hijab but it is good to dress modestly and cover shoulders and legs in public places.
4. How do girls dress in Pakistan?
The traditional clothing for girls in Pakistan is made up of:
Shalwar
Kameez
Long sleeve shirt worn with a shawl
Loose trousers tapered at ankles
5. What should I wear as a tourist?
As a tourist, when you visit Pakistan, you can wear accordingly based on different weather conditions, cultural values and local etiquettes.