Forum Pakistan

This has been practised by the people of Pakistan since antiquity. Needles for embroidery were found in the *Mohenjo-Daro and *Harappa excavations. Descriptions of embroidery often occur in old epic literature.The embroideries produced at the court workshops of the *Mughals were distinguished for their excellent quality and artistic merit. One of the best-known workshops was in Lahore. The embroideries embellished numerous curtains, canopies, and drapes. Extremely fine silk embroideries were made on a cotton base. The ornament of these objects, including branches, flowering plants, and cypresses, is reminiscent of the architectural ornament of the epoch. Embroideries decorated court costumes: belts, shawls, and turbans. In the *Punjab and *Swat, women create embroideries in the ancient phulkari style (Farsi for flowerwork; phulkari is a corruption of the original Farsi Golkari). These are usually curtains, canopies, shawls, and pillowcases intended for brides' dowries and also for religious festivals. Phulkaris are mostly executed on large rectangular pieces of cloth of coarse homespun of orange, deep red, or dark-blue. The whole surface of the fabric is covered with embroidery in untwisted fibre of raw cotton in darning satin-stitch. The darning stitches create geometrical designs, such a rhomboids, triangles, and strips. Phulkaris with figures of human beings and animals are rare. Embroidery ornament are often linked with ritual ideas and are looked upon as protection against evil forces. For example, the mirch or pepper ornament embroidered on a bride's veil protects her against the evil eye.

The embroideries of *Balochistan and *Sindh are well known. There are a great number of designs and each tribe has a favourite set of ornaments. There are embellished costumes, caps, tablecloths, napkins, and bags in which the Quran and amulets are kept. Silk, gold, and silver thread, as well as shells and mirrors, are used in the embroideries of these regions of Pakistan. Kashida type embroideries are common to the Swat region. As a rule, these embroideries are executed in untwisted silk in bright colours-dark pink, dark red, green and white, and orange-against a black background. Embroidery in braid enhances the chagha, long woollen costumes. Embroidery on leather is traditional in Pakistan. It decorates various leather items like the harness of camels and horses, also shoes and bags. The embroidery is done with a special hooked needle.