It’s always easy to know what to bring for your rishteydaar when you’re coming back to Pakistan. But the real trick is to know what to take to them in the first place. Lekin ubh fiker kerne ki koi zuroorat nahi hai. This is the ultimate shopping list to add to your bag if you’re visiting relatives abroad. There are things in this list whose real value you won’t even realize until you see their eyes shine so brightly it’ll blind you.
1. Khalifa khatai
Bonus points if they’re the ones with badaam in them. You’ll be worshiped for life.
2. Cocomo
These little almost balls of joy will make any heart beat faster.
3. Nimko
You won’t even know where the whole 1 kilo pack has gone. One minute you leave it open on the table, the next it’ll be khaali foil.
4. Gluco biscuit
Whoever targeted these biscuits at children had no idea what they were doing. Promise.
5. Oil
Not the cooking kind, the herbal kind.
Khaalis sarsoun ka tel, nariel ka tel, khaali tel, bring them all on. They’ll love you. At least the women will.
6. Urdu books and digests
If they avidly read Pakistani authors, there’s no better present than books!
7. Desi ghee wali mithai
You don’t know happiness till you’ve seen people open a dabba of barfi straight outta Lahore. RIP Nirala
8. Shan Masalay
Shan does make masalas specifically for the valayti audience but the real deal that you get in Pakistan has the special mitti ki khushboo that you won’t get from their’s.
9. Clothes made by your darzi
Get them made if y’all are close enough and you have their naap.
10. Haleem packets
Poori dunya ek taraf, haleem ek taraf. Nothing beats National ki Quick Cook Haleem. 30 minutes and gooey chicken-y goodness.
11. Champion Lady hair pins
You can laugh all you want, but these bad boys girls are on every girl’s list, and the speed with which they run out, you can never have enough.
Here’s hoping your relatives will now be slightly happier with you. Unless it’s your phuppo. Woh kisi bhi tarhaan khush nahi houn gi…sorry.
Cover image via: theepochtimes.com