A khussa is a flat, handmade shoe with a one-piece upper of leather or cloth, often with a curled toe and embroidered in thread, tilla or beads. It is made across Punjab and Sindh, and the best-known styles take their names from where they are made: Lahori, Multani, Bahawalpuri and the Sindhi khusso. Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar and Multan's Hussain Agahi are the easiest places to buy one, and Bahawalpur and Chakwal have their own old shoemaking traditions.
This guide explains what makes each style different, where each one is made and sold, and how to choose a pair that you will actually wear.
| At a glance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Style | Where to buy | What to look for |
| Lahori | Anarkali Bazaar, Liberty Market | Bright thread, beads and gota for weddings and Eid |
| Multani | Hussain Agahi and the old city, Multan | Embroidered leather, from everyday to bridal |
| Bahawalpuri or Saleem Shahi | Old city bazaars, Bahawalpur | Fine tilla (gold or silver thread) work |
| Sindhi khusso | Bazaars across Sindh | Cowries, mirrors, pompoms and bells |
| Chakwal | Mochi Bazaar, Hospital Road | Handmade khussa and zari khairi |
What is a khussa?
A traditional khussa is handmade, mostly from vegetable-tanned leather, with the upper cut in one piece and stitched to the sole with cotton thread. It is completely flat, and on a traditional pair the left and right shoes are cut the same, so they can be swapped. The shape of the toe varies: some curl right up, others are pointed or rounded.
The decoration is where the regions differ. Uppers are embroidered and finished with brass nails, cowry shells, mirrors, bells, ceramic beads or taunra, small pompoms. On the finest pairs the embroidery is tilla, real gold or silver thread.
The shoe is old. Under the Mughals it acquired a courtly name, Saleem Shahi, after Saleem, the boyhood name of Emperor Jahangir. Wikipedia lists the main regional types as Sindhi, Multani, Punjabi, Jacobabadi, Kandhkoti, Makeshan and Nagrro. Gulf News, writing on the craft, notes that the Saleem Shahi was made from goat skin and the nagra from camel skin.
Khussa is a different shoe from the Peshawari or Charsadda chappal, which is an open sandal with a thick sole. If that is what you are after, see our guide to Peshawari chappal.
Lahori khussa
Lahore is the busiest khussa market in the country, and it is also where many are made. Dawn has described the Walled City's Shahi Mohalla as the largest shoe manufacturing hub in Pakistan, with many of its workers coming from villages in south Punjab.
Lahori khussa are the ones you see at weddings and on Eid: bright thread, sequins, beads, gota trim and colours matched to an outfit, alongside plainer men's pairs in tan or black. Shops can often make a pair to match a bridal or groom's outfit if you give them time. Most shoppers buy in the shoe lanes of Anarkali Bazaar or in Liberty Market in Gulberg. Our Lahori khussa shopping guide covers which lanes to try, 2026 prices and how to bargain.
Multani khussa
Multan is one of the main khussa centres, and Multani is one of the regional types the craft is known by. The shops cluster in and around Hussain Agahi Bazaar in the old city, and they sell everything from plain everyday leather to heavy bridal pairs.
If you are already in Multan for the shrines, an evening in Hussain Agahi is the obvious time to buy. Our guide to shopping in Multan covers the rest of the old city's crafts.
Bahawalpuri and Saleem Shahi khussa
Bahawalpur's khussa are known for their delicate tilla work. According to Gulf News, the khussa was once favoured by the landed classes for its shape, light weight and shiny tilla embroidery, and an expert cobbler could take up to six months to finish a fine pair, light and soft enough to fold into a pocket. The Bahawalpuri pair is one of several local names for the Saleem Shahi style.
Real tilla is now expensive, and Dawn reported in 2021 that makers using it had become scarce, with plastic stones and imitation pearls taking its place on cheaper pairs. If you want genuine tilla, ask for it by name, look closely at the thread, and expect to pay much more than for a beaded pair. Bahawalpur's old city bazaars are the place to look, and they fit easily into a trip to the city's palaces. Our Bahawalpur itinerary shows how to plan the days.
Sindhi khusso
In Sindh the shoe is the khusso, and it comes in many local styles named after towns, including the Jacobabadi and Kandhkoti. Sindhi pairs are often heavily decorated, with cowries, mirrors, coloured pompoms, small bells and bright thread on the upper.
They are sold in town bazaars across Sindh. Because they are made in small workshops, styles vary from one maker to the next, which is part of their appeal.
Chakwal and Rawalpindi
Chakwal has a long-established Mochi Bazaar at the end of Hospital Road, a narrow street of shoemakers. A 2015 report in the Gulf Times described khussa there that took about two weeks to make, and zari khairi, shoes embroidered with gold thread, that took about two and a half months. The makers interviewed said demand was falling as younger buyers moved to fashion shoes.
In Rawalpindi, Dawn's Images listed shops in the Purana Qila market and Kashmiri Bazaar in the old city, some open for 40 to 60 years, selling handmade khussa. See our guide to Raja Bazaar for how the old city bazaars fit together.
How much does a khussa cost?
Prices depend on three things: whether the pair is handmade or factory-made, real leather or synthetic, and how much embroidery it carries. A plain handmade leather pair costs much more than a factory pair, and tilla or bridal work costs much more again.
We have only found reliable current prices for Lahore, which our Lahori khussa guide gives for 2026. Expect Multan and Bahawalpur to be in a broadly similar range, with prices rising before Eid and the wedding season. Bargaining is normal in the bazaars and less so in fixed-price shops.
How to choose and break in a pair
- Buy them tight. A leather khussa stretches and moulds to your foot over the first week or two. A pair that feels comfortable in the shop may be loose later.
- Try on both shoes, even though they are cut the same. Handmade pairs vary slightly.
- Check the sole. Thin leather soles are traditional but wear quickly on pavement. Ask whether the shop can fit a rubber sole.
- Check the inside. A padded insole makes a big difference if you will walk in them all day at a wedding.
- Wear them in at home. Wear them for an hour or two at a time before the event, not for the first time on the baraat day.
- Keep them dry. Vegetable-tanned leather marks easily in water, and embroidered uppers don't clean well.
Which khussa should you buy?
For a wedding or Eid outfit, a Lahori pair is the easiest choice: the most colours, the most shops and the fastest service. For an everyday leather pair, Multan's old city shops have a wide choice. For a special piece, a gift or a groom's shoe, genuine Bahawalpuri tilla work is worth the price and the wait.
If you are travelling, buy where you are. Each city's bazaar is part of the visit, and you get the local style rather than a copy. Avoid the cheapest pairs if you will walk in them, because synthetic uppers and thin soles are uncomfortable within an hour. For more crafts worth seeking out, see our Pakistani souvenirs guide and our experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a khussa?
A khussa is a flat, handmade shoe from Punjab and Sindh with a one-piece upper of leather or cloth, often with a curled toe and decorated with embroidery, tilla, beads, mirrors or cowries.
Which city is famous for khussa in Pakistan?
Lahore and Multan are the best-known khussa cities. Bahawalpur is known for tilla work, and Sindh has many local styles of its own.
Are khussa comfortable?
A well-made leather pair is very comfortable once broken in, which takes a week or two. Expect them to feel tight at first, and avoid synthetic pairs if you plan to walk a lot.
What is the difference between a khussa and a Peshawari chappal?
A khussa is a closed, flat slip-on shoe with a soft one-piece upper. A Peshawari chappal is an open sandal with straps and a thick sole.
What is tilla work on a khussa?
Tilla is embroidery in fine gold or silver thread. It is the traditional decoration on Bahawalpuri and Saleem Shahi pairs and costs much more than beads or ordinary thread.
