Ask Abbu what he wants and the answer is almost always the same: "Kuch nahi chahiye, beta." He already has a watch, a wallet he has used for ten years and a cupboard of shirts he never wears. That makes buying for a father in Pakistan one of the hardest gift problems there is. The good news is that fathers are practical people. If a gift makes something he does every day slightly better, he will use it – and quietly show it to his friends. This guide covers gift ideas for your father by budget, by the kind of man he is and by occasion, from Father's Day and his birthday to Eid and his retirement.
Quick answer: The best gifts for a father in Pakistan are practical upgrades to things he already uses: a good wallet, an attar or perfume, a keychain for his car or bike keys, a comfortable pair of chappals, a quality shawl, a tasbeeh and prayer mat, or a simple bracelet if he wears one. Under Rs 2,000, a hand-knotted keychain or a plain bracelet works well; above Rs 5,000, think earbuds, a watch or a family meal out. Add a handwritten note – for most fathers, that is the part they keep.
Why buying for Abbu is different
Fathers of our parents' generation tend to be careful with money and suspicious of anything flashy. A gift that looks expensive can make him uncomfortable ("itne paise kyun kharch kiye?"), while a gift that looks useful gets used. Keep three things in mind:
- Upgrade, don't introduce. Replace something he already owns and uses – his worn wallet, his cracked phone cover, his tired chappals – rather than asking him to adopt something new.
- Match his age and style. A 50-year-old in an office and a 70-year-old who spends his mornings at the mosque need very different gifts.
- Time and presence count. Many fathers value a meal together, a drive, or help with something at home more than any object.
Gift ideas for your father by budget
Giraa prices are current at the time of writing. Other items are rough market ranges and vary by brand and city.
| Budget | Ideas | Works for |
|---|---|---|
| Under Rs 1,500 | Paracord keychain (Rs 1,199), macramé bracelet (Rs 1,499), a good pen, tasbeeh, a book | Small birthdays, Father's Day from students |
| Rs 1,500 – 3,000 | Paracord bracelet (Rs 1,699–1,999), two keychains (Rs 1,999), attar, reading glasses case, a mug and good tea | Birthday, Eid, Father's Day |
| Rs 3,000 – 7,000 | Leather wallet, Peshawari chappals, a wool shawl, a perfume, bracelet + keychain gift set | Eid, milestone birthdays |
| Rs 7,000 and up | Wireless earbuds, a watch, a smartwatch for walks, a family dinner, a weekend trip | Retirement, 60th birthday, return from Hajj or Umrah |
For most children – especially students – the Rs 1,500 to 3,000 range is right. Fathers notice effort far more than price, and a costly gift from a son or daughter who is still studying can make him worry rather than smile. For more ideas in that range, see our list of Eid and birthday gifts under Rs 3,000.
Ideas by the kind of father he is
The office-going father
He is at a desk from nine to five and dresses in shirts and trousers or shalwar kameez. Useful gifts: a slim wallet, a quality pen, a laptop bag, a plain bracelet that sits under a shirt cuff and next to a watch. Keep colours dark and quiet – black, deep green or brown. Our guide to men's bracelets explains how to wear one with a watch without it looking busy.
The driver
If Abbu is always in the car or on the bike – school runs, the market, visiting relatives – a solid keychain is a gift he will hold every day. A paracord keychain is easy to find in a pocket, does not scratch the dashboard like a heavy metal fob, and holds up to years of use. See the keychain collection. Pair it with a phone mount or a car seat cushion if you want to spend more.
The religious father
For a father whose day is organised around namaz, think comfort and quality: a soft, well-made prayer mat, a tasbeeh in a material he likes, a good attar, a topi, or a large-print Quran if his eyes are getting tired. Avoid anything with loud decoration – simple and well-made is the point.
The outdoors or gardening father
If he spends his evenings in the garden, on long walks or planning family trips up north, give him something that survives use: a wide-brim hat, good walking shoes, a torch, a flask or a rugged paracord bracelet. Paracord is nylon, so sweat and rain do not hurt it.
The retired father
Time is what he has most of now. A book by a writer he likes, a newspaper or magazine subscription, a tablet set up with large text, or a comfortable chair for the veranda will get daily use. Better still, plan a regular outing with him.
Would my father actually wear a bracelet?
An honest question, because not every father will. Many Pakistani men of our parents' generation wore nothing on their wrists but a watch. But plenty of fathers now in their 40s and 50s do wear a simple bracelet – especially if it looks like a practical object rather than jewellery. Some tips if you are considering one:
- Go plain and dark. A solid black or army-green paracord bracelet reads as rugged and practical. Aswad (black, Rs 1,699) and Akhdar (deep army green, Rs 1,699) are the safest choices.
- Consider a softer tone. If he wears lots of white and beige kurtas, Raml (sand, Rs 1,999) or the slim tan macramé Qamhi (Rs 1,499) blend in naturally.
- Skip the flashy stuff. No bright colours, beads or large metal charms.
- Put it on him yourself. Show him how the sliding knot tightens and loosens – our sliding knot guide takes two minutes. Fathers often skip anything that seems fiddly.
If you think he will not wear a bracelet, give him a keychain instead. It is the same handmade cord in a form every father already uses.
Gifts by occasion
Father's Day
In Pakistan, Father's Day falls on the third Sunday of June, in the middle of the summer heat. A light gift works best: a keychain, a bracelet, an attar or a card from the grandchildren. Order a week early if you are sending it to another city.
His birthday
Many fathers never celebrated birthdays growing up, so even a small cake and a gift from the family is meaningful. Choose something personal – his favourite colour, his hobby – and add a note about a memory with him.
Eid
On Eid, fathers are usually the ones giving Eidi. Turn it around with something he can wear on the day: a new topi, an attar for Eid namaz, a pair of chappals, or a plain bracelet that goes with his new shalwar kameez.
Retirement
This is a milestone worth a bigger gift from the whole family – a watch, a trip, a nicely framed family photo, or something for his new hobby. A small handmade piece that he wears every day can sit alongside it as a personal reminder.
Returning from Hajj or Umrah
Welcome him home with comfort – soft slippers, a good shawl, dates and zamzam for his visitors, and a family meal. Keep it simple and warm.
Gifts from a daughter vs a son
Daughters often have more licence to be sentimental. A handwritten letter, a photo album of old family pictures, or a matching bracelet – one for him and one for her – rarely fails. Sons can do the same, but many fathers and sons find it easier to show affection through something practical: fixing his phone, taking over a chore, or handing him a keychain for the car you learned to drive in.
Giraa gifts for fathers
Every Giraa piece is hand-knotted in Lahore, from genuine 550 paracord or fine macramé cord. Bracelets close with an adjustable sliding knot rather than a buckle, so you do not need to measure his wrist in secret – though the size guide is there if you want to be sure.
- Paracord keychains – Rs 1,199 (or any two for Rs 1,999). For car, bike and house keys.
- Paracord bracelets – Rs 1,699–1,999. Black, army green, sand and mixed tones in bracelets for men.
- Gift sets with a bracelet and keychains in a box are in bundles and gifts.
Delivery is Rs 250 anywhere in Pakistan and free over Rs 4,500, with cash on delivery available.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best gift for a father in Pakistan?
A practical upgrade to something he uses daily – a wallet, an attar, a keychain for his car keys, good chappals or a shawl – plus a handwritten note.
What can I gift my father under Rs 2,000?
A paracord keychain (Rs 1,199), a paracord or macramé bracelet (Rs 1,499–1,999), a tasbeeh, a good pen or a book.
When is Father's Day in Pakistan?
Pakistan marks Father's Day on the third Sunday of June, the same as many other countries.
What should I give my father on Eid?
Something he can use on Eid day: a topi, an attar for Eid namaz, chappals, or a plain bracelet to wear with his new shalwar kameez.
What is a good retirement gift for Abbu?
A watch, a family trip, a framed family photo, or gear for a hobby he now has time for – ideally a group gift from all the children.
Is a bracelet a good gift for an older father?
It can be, if you choose a plain, dark design that looks practical rather than decorative. If he only ever wears a watch, a keychain is the safer choice.