Pashtun dress for men is a long, loose shirt over very full trousers, called perahan tunban in Pashto and khet partug or the Peshawari shalwar suit in Pakistan, worn with a waistcoat, a cap or turban and leather Peshawari chappals. Pashtun women traditionally wear the firaq partug: a flared dress over baggy trousers gathered at the ankle, with a chador over the head. In Peshawar, a new waistcoat, shalwar kameez and chappals are widely seen as part of every Eid.
This guide explains each piece, how it differs from the ordinary shalwar kameez, and where in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to buy it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Men's suit | Perahan tunban, also called khet partug or Peshawari shalwar kameez |
| Over it | A waistcoat (waskat) on formal days and at Eid |
| On the head | Turban (lungi or patkay), pakol, or a white cap |
| Footwear | Peshawari chappal, also called kheri |
| Women's dress | Firaq partug with a chador |
| Where to buy | Peshawar's old-city bazaars; town bazaars across KP |
| Handmade chappal | About PKR 5,000 a pair in Peshawar (2025) |
What is perahan tunban?
Perahan o tunban means "shirt and trousers" in Pashto. It is the Pashtun form of the shalwar kameez, and it is cut much looser.
The perahan, the shirt, is wide, with loose sleeves. Traditional versions have no collar and button on the shoulder; they fit closer at the waist and then fall full to the knee or further. Many are embroidered on the chest, collar and around the buttons. The tunban, the trousers, uses a great deal of cloth gathered at the waist so that it hangs in deep folds around the legs. Wikipedia notes that modern versions can be a yard wide.
In Pakistan you will hear the same outfit called khet partug or simply the Peshawari shalwar. Wikipedia's description of traditional Peshawar dress mentions the khalqa, a gown that opens at the front, or a shirt that does not, over a Peshawari shalwar that is very loose down to the ankles.
The cloth is usually cotton or polyester, with woollen cloth for winter. Modern versions are closer to the ordinary shalwar kameez, with side slits and arched sides, while keeping the loose cut. The Kandahari style, with fine geometric embroidery on a plain-trousered suit, is the fashionable version across the border.
The waistcoat
The waistcoat, often called a waskat, turns everyday dress into formal wear. It is sleeveless, buttoned down the front and worn over the kameez.
In Peshawar it is close to compulsory for Eid. An Aaj News report from Peshawar's Chitrali Bazaar before Eid in 2022 quoted shoppers saying a new waistcoat, shalwar kameez and Peshawari chappals were a necessary part of Eid. A shopkeeper in the same report said the better waistcoats were made from imported fabric because it hangs better.
For the Khattak dance, performers wear a red embroidered waistcoat over a wide shalwar and a frock-style kameez, with a decorative scarf at the waist, according to an Associated Press of Pakistan report from January 2026. Our guide to the Khattak dance covers the performance.
Turbans and caps
What a Pashtun man wears on his head says something about where he is from and the occasion.
- Turban (lungi or patkay). A long length of cloth wound around the head. Wikipedia's article on Pashtun dress names the lungi as the most common form.
- Pakol. The soft, rolled woollen cap that came to Peshawar from Chitral and the far north. Our guide to the Chitrali pakol and choga covers its story and how it is made.
- White cap. Plain white kufi caps are typical of the Peshawar region.
- Karakul. The lambskin hat associated with leaders and chiefs, worn by Afghan figures such as Hamid Karzai.
What do Pashtun women wear?
The traditional women's dress is the firaq partug, which Wikipedia describes in three parts:
- Firaq, the upper garment, flares out from the waist like a skirt. Some styles reach the ankles, others stop below the knee. It is also simply called a qameez.
- Partug, the trousers, a baggy shalwar gathered at the ankles and tied at the waist.
- Chador, a head covering of varying length.
The tunic and trousers are often in contrasting colours. Festive dresses are decorated with beaded or embroidered panels on the shoulders and the front of the bodice, and styles differ between Kuchi, Waziri, Khattak, Peshawari and Kakar communities. The heavily embroidered, layered dress of Kuchi nomad women has become the image most people outside the region associate with Pashtun women's dress.
The Peshawari chappal
The Peshawari chappal, or kheri, is the footwear that completes the outfit: a heavy leather sandal with two wide straps crossed over the front and a buckled strap at the heel. Traditional soles were made from old tyres or leather stitched onto rubber. Wikipedia lists Peshawar, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan among the places it is made, along with Hazro, Chakwal, Talagang and Sargodha in Punjab.
It had its own international moment in 2014, when the British designer Paul Smith sold a near copy for about £300, which caused an outcry in Pakistan until the brand acknowledged the original. An Associated Press of Pakistan report from March 2025 found handmade chappals in Peshawar's Jahangirpura Bazaar at about PKR 5,000 a pair, up from PKR 4,500 the year before. Our guides to the Peshawari chappal and to chappal shopping in Charsadda go into styles and makers.
Where to buy Pashtun dress
Peshawar's old city is the centre of the trade:
- Chitrali Bazaar, opposite Qissa Khwani, for pakols, waistcoats, woollen coats and chogas.
- Qissa Khwani and the lanes around it for caps, shawls and waistcoats.
- Jahangirpura Bazaar, near Qissa Khwani, for handmade Peshawari chappals.
- Saddar Bazaar, for ready-made suits and waistcoats, generally pricier than the old city.
Our Peshawar shopping guide and Qissa Khwani Bazaar guide cover the old city in more detail. The UK government currently advises against all travel to Peshawar and Charsadda. Pakistani shoppers still go, especially before Eid, but check local news and police advice before you set out, and foreign-passport holders should read their own government's advice, because ignoring it can void insurance.
If you are not going to Peshawar, every town bazaar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sells unstitched cloth, waistcoats and chappals, and a tailor can cut a perahan tunban if you ask for a loose Peshawari shalwar.
Should visitors wear Pashtun dress?
Yes, if you want to. Shalwar kameez is the most comfortable and the most appropriate thing to wear across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and a Peshawari shalwar and waistcoat fit in anywhere in the province. Two things are worth knowing:
- Turbans take skill. Tying one properly takes practice, and styles vary by region. If a host offers to tie one for you, accept; otherwise a pakol is the easier choice.
- Women visitors will be most comfortable in a loose shalwar kameez with a dupatta or chador. Our guide to Pashtun etiquette covers dress and behaviour as a guest, and the experiences page lists cultural trips.
As a souvenir, a pair of handmade chappals or a waistcoat is the practical buy. A loose perahan tunban is also genuinely useful on a summer trip north. For how Pashtun dress fits into the wider picture, see our guide to Pakistani traditional dress.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional dress of Pashtuns?
For men, perahan tunban, a long loose shirt over full trousers, with a waistcoat, a turban or cap and Peshawari chappals. For women, the firaq partug: a flared dress over baggy trousers with a chador.
What is the difference between perahan tunban and shalwar kameez?
Perahan tunban is a form of shalwar kameez, cut much looser. The trousers use far more cloth, and the traditional shirt is collarless and buttons at the shoulder.
What is khet partug?
Another name for the loose Peshawari shalwar suit worn by Pashtun men in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is essentially the same outfit as perahan tunban.
What is firaq partug?
The traditional dress of Pashtun women: a firaq that flares from the waist like a skirt, partug trousers gathered at the ankles, and a chador.
Where can I buy a Peshawari waistcoat and chappals?
In Peshawar's old city: Chitrali Bazaar for waistcoats and caps, and Jahangirpura Bazaar near Qissa Khwani for handmade chappals. Most town bazaars in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also sell both.
How much does a Peshawari chappal cost?
Handmade pairs in Peshawar cost about PKR 5,000 in 2025, according to an Associated Press of Pakistan report. Machine-made and branded pairs vary widely, so compare a few shops.
