The Pakistani expatriate community in Riyadh organized a festive bazaar for women and children at the Ramada Hotel recently.

The exhibition by the Pakistani ladies’ club entitled “Needs & Style” showcased traditional dresses and other items.

Sajida Chaudhry, founder of the club, said she organizes these exhibitions as the group’s focus is tending to the fashion needs of Pakistani and Indian women.

“These exhibitions promote Pakistan’s rich culture internationally and the hosting of activities brings the community together giving the feeling of a home away from home,” she said.

The exhibition featured 27 stalls filled with colorful embroidered Pakistani and Indian dresses, jewelry, cosmetics, accessories, and traditional snacks.

The food stall was the most popular attraction of the evening with many women tucking into several of the Pakistani delicacies on offer.

“It is not often that people get to have these snacks which remind them of home,” Chaudhry said adding that this was why the food stalls were such a magnet for everybody.

Women at the exhibition were selling traditional tailored and unstitched dresses that they had ordered from Pakistan and India to cater to the demand of their clients.

Navera Shamsi, proprietor of Candy Boutique, was selling dresses that she had ordered from Pakistan but seemed disappointed at the low turnout of customers.

She said: “The reason for the rather low sales is that schools re-opened this week and ladies are more focused on shopping for their children than themselves.”

Some 100 women of Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi origin visited the bazaar which was advertised on the “Needs & Style” Facebook page, via text messages, and by word of mouth.

Chaudhry said: “People were drawn to the exhibition more by word of mouth than through social media.”