Indulgences

1. پان

   pān

   Paan (betel leaf quid)

   Usage

   The filling is areca nut, slaked lime, catechu, fennel and rose preserve, wrapped in a betel leaf. Chewers spit the red juice (peek), which is why walls and pavements are stained red. Especially everyday in Muhajir households in Karachi. ⚠ Paan chewing has substantially raised the rate of oral cancer in Pakistan

2. گلوری

   gilaurī

   Gilauri (a single folded paan)

   Usage

   A wrapped paan is called a gilauri. It doubles as the counting word — say "ek gilauri" at a stall for one

3. چھالیہ

   chhāliya

   Areca nut (betel nut)

   Usage

   The nut inside paan, also chewed on its own. چھالیہ is the everyday Pakistani word; the more literary word is سپاری. ⚠ Areca nut is classed as carcinogenic, causing oral cancer and submucous fibrosis

4. گٹکا

   guṭkā

   Gutka (chewing tobacco mix)

   Usage

   🔴 Do not buy it. The areca used in gutka is C-grade, the poorest quality, then packed into sachets with tobacco, chemicals and flavouring. Smokeless tobacco of this kind is a Group 1 carcinogen, causing oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer.

5. نسوار

   naswār

   Naswar (moist snuff)

   Usage

   A moist powdered tobacco used across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asia, held under the lower lip or inside the cheek for 15 to 30 minutes. Especially common in Pashtun areas. ⚠ A smokeless tobacco, with cancer risk to match

6. حقہ

   huqqa

   Huqqa (waterpipe)

   Usage

   The word comes from Arabic huqq and the object from India. Still a communal fixture in villages. ⚠ In September 2018 the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the provinces to enforce the existing ban on hookah cafés — city venues may be illegal. ⚠ Do not use the Arabic word شیشہ here: in Urdu شیشہ means glass or mirror

7. سگریٹ

   sigreṭ

   Cigarette

   Usage

   A loanword. Sold by the single stick at roadside kiosks (khokha). ⚠ Smoking indoors and on public transport is restricted — follow the notices posted

8. تمباکو

   tambākū

   Tobacco

   Usage

   The leaf itself — the raw material of cigarettes, chewing mixes and paan fillings alike. When ordering paan, say "tambaku nahin" to get the tobacco-free, sweet version

9. چلغوزہ

   chilghoza

   Chilgoza (pine nuts)

   Usage

   Pine nuts from the north-west. Roasted and sold by the paper cone from winter street carts. The priciest of the dried fruits and nuts, sold by weight — and the non-tobacco street indulgence you will meet most often

10. کھجور

    khajūr

    Dates

    Usage

    Khairpur in Sindh is the main growing area and Pakistan is among the world's largest producers. Bought by weight, choosing the variety. Traditionally the first thing eaten to break the fast, and a standard gift — the markets pile them high in Ramadan

Browse all TravelPhrases languages