Sarees is the oldest dress for women of Indian subcontinent since 5000 plus years dating back to indus civilisation. It has gone through many innovations and different variations developed for different regions of ancient India cause of ethnic diversities. Since majority of Pakistanis have had Hindu ancestry the sarees have been worn by majority of Muslim women even after conversion to Islam. In more recent 1000 plus years of history, whether it was Delhi sultanate era, mughal era, British india raj era or post partition the sarees have continued to be worn.
Below in pictures we will witness how sarees were very much the norm amongst normal citizens, movie celebrities as well as first ladies who accompanied their husbands on away tours as visiting head of state of Pakistan as well as receiving foreign dignitaries, officials from other countries.
Post 1971 era of Prime minister Zulfiqar Ali bhutto
Though in Pakistan the sarees began to be outlawed during General Zia ul haq’s islamisation era from 1977 onwards to
up till 1988.
Post Gen Zia ul haq era, shalwar kameezes became more common with fashion designers bringing out all types of varieties.
Revival of sarees in recent years in Pakistan, Pakistani models, TV drama celebrities illustrating beauty and elegance of sarees at different platforms. This was possible largely due to Liberal environment encouraged by Gen and President Pervez Musharraf during his tenure from 1999 to 2007. It was cause of his Liberal views that thousands of private channels mushroomed giving access to a lot more foreign TV content as well as a lot of TV serial and movie content from our neighbour and original patent nation INDIA. Indian TV serials and Bollywood movies helped Pakistani designers to craft and revive SAREES which has been our original dress wear for centuries since ancient India / hind/ bharat. The returning of sarees is not just amongst models, TV and movie actresses but also amongst normal Pakistani women who are donning it more regularly. The return to sarees is also reverting back to original Indian roots and culture which is our real identity.
Restoration of original culture will manifest breaking down of artificial mental, emotional, psychological and ideological barriers between Pakistanis and indians towards gradual reunification of United India.
2010 onwards
So deep within our subconscious mind is sarees is linked that we never fully erased it despite futile efforts of Gen Zia ul Haq during 1977 to 1988. It so happens that sarees is official dress code of women belonging to Pakistan army doctors unit.
You see no enlightened, educated, well researched Pakistani can deny that their roots is Indian and vast majority of us carry Hindu ancestry as our ancestors practiced sanathan dharma over 1000 ago before converting to Islam. Our genetics dictate we stay adjacent to our Indian culture, norms, traditions, celebrations, indian cuisines, clothing, music and literature.