New Delhi, Jan 10: The saas-bahu serials from India have led to a craze for saris in Pakistan and traders say the obsession has become so big that women there have named the saris after the characters of the popular serials.
Thus you have Kumkum saris, Ramola, Tulsi and Parvati saris and anyone visiting India is told to get them, says Arshad Ali Khan, a trader from Karachi.
"Till a few years back, there were not many takers for saris in Pakistan but suddenly you see women all around wearing saris, even at parties and social gatherings," says Khan.
Besides this, the Indian benarsi saris too are always in demand in Pakistan. They are given in weddings and as gifts and people are willing to pay any price for them, he says.
"The trade is still not totally open and most of the time these saris are taken by either small traders or people who are travelling from Pakistan to India by bus or train for their personal use or giving to relatives," says Shaukat, another trader.
He says if the trade becomes open, saris itself can become a major item of export to Pakistan, and some varieties from there can also be sent to India.
Bureau Report
